OutClique Magazine April 2023

STACY RITTER

Amazing

Dear Readers,

Amazing is the only word that comes to mind as I write this month’s letter. I am sitting here with the windows and doors open. Our amazing Florida weather and sunshine is pouring in.

This month (March) was an amazing concert by the South Florida Symphony Orchestra with cellist, Zuill Bailey, at the newly remodeled Parker. I saw Itzak Perlman in person at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts. The concert of a lifetime. I heard Liz Callaway perform with the Symphony of the Americas. I sat back and mellowed to the sounds of Stacey Kent as she sang with Gold Coast Jazz. The Kravis Center for the Performing Arts hosted us for a fantastic performance by Bernadette Peters. Michael Carbanaro made the night magical (pun intended) at The Center (Coral Springs Center for the Arts). Island City Stage gave us another thought provoking and entertaining show. And the Gay Men’s Chorus of South FLorida (GMCSF) astounded another audience with their amazing performance.

What’s next? Don’t miss Florida Grand Opera’s Barber of Seville. Tru, a local performance with a leading role I highly recommend. Please do all you can to make it to Dining Out for Life. Broward House helps so many in our community. Stop by for brunch at Lips and don’t forget your dollars for gals. OutClique welcomes New City Players to the family. Check out their show, Cry for Old Kingdom. And if that’s not enough, the OutShine Film Festival has a whole host of films and events. While you’re in Miami, the Adrianne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts has a lineup of shows with something for everyone.

I’m headed to Island House Key West. More on that, next month!

May happiness be abounding.1

Dr. Steven2

1 Dr. Angela Easterday-Holder, former Chair and Professor of Music at Carson-Newman University and choir member Immanuel Baptist Church, Lexington, KY (www.ibclex.org)

2 Dr. Jane McEldowney Jensen, doctoral supervisor. Director of Graduate Studies, Educational Policy Studies & Education. University of Kentucky, College of Education. Dissertation title: Pediatrics education in an AHEC setting: Preparing students to provide patient centered medicine. A research study of ways that medical students learn patient centered medicine through their rotations in AHEC clinical settings.

Thehiringofalawyerisanimportantdecisionthatshouldnotonlybebasedonadvertisements.Before youdecideaskthelawyertosendyoufreewritteninformationabouttheirqualificationsandexperience.

Plan an LGBTQ+ Getaway in Orlando

Orlando hosts special celebrations throughout the year, gourmet food and beverage festivals, theme park events, and more — and everyone is invited to the party. What’s more, many of our events are of special interest to the LGBTQ+ community, perfect for a spring or summer getaway to Orlando.

A highly inclusive destination, Orlando has been a pioneer in LGBTQ+ tourism dating back to the original Gay Days in 1991. A winning destination in the 2023 “Gay Travel Awards”, Orlando promotes inclusivity through events, nightlife, and activities that welcome all. The “city beautiful” has even earned a perfect score from the Human Rights Campaign's Municipal Equality Index in 2022, which measures the LGBTQ+ inclusiveness of cities' laws, policies, and services.

Must-See Events

• SeaWorld Orlando’s Seven Seas Food Festival (through May 7) features exquisite global cuisine, an ocean of local craft beers and diverse live entertainment.

• Universal’s Mardi Gras: International Flavors

of Carnaval (through April 16) features Cajun and Creole dishes, and performances by some of the biggest names in music.

• EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival (March 1 – July 5) boasts impressive Disney-inspired topiaries and colorful gardens and delicious fresh flavors around the World Showcase.

• Fiesta in the Park (April 1-2) located in the heart of downtown Orlando, is a traditional celebration that returns for its 34th year to showcase the beauty of springtime at Lake Eola.

• The Pride Prom (April 28) at the Orlando Science Center is an adult-only (21+) Prom hosted by Come Out with Pride. The theme this year is Planet EVO: Evolution is Inclusion.

• GayDays (May 31 – June 5), is comprised of multiple events staged at world-famous attractions; gay and lesbian clubs; and unique venues that create a renowned gay and lesbian vacation experience.

• Girls in Wonderland (June 1-5), the counterpart to

Credit: Come Out With Pride & Brian Becnel, Photographer

GayDays, caters to female members of the LGBTQ+ community featuring parties, special performances and celebrity appearances.

• One Magical Weekend (June 1-5), always on the first weekend in June, is one of the largest LGBTQ+ pride and music festivals in the world.

Nightlife and Live Entertainment

Vibrant live entertainment and dance clubs in and around the downtown area, combined with our welcoming nature, have helped make Orlando famous among LGBTQ+ travelers.

• Savoy Orlando is an LGBTQ nightclub with themed events ideal for any mood, such as Flashback Fridays and Martini Mondays. It contains a cabaret venue called the Starlite Room that hosts stand-up comedy, musical acts and more.

• Southern Nights Nightclub presents numerous opportunities for guests, like drag nights and GIRL The Party, which is a popular Saturday-night celebration for lesbians.

• Stardust Lounge near Lake Eola Par in downtown Orlando is an actual underground bar decorated with “retro”-chic Vegas stylings like red leather booths and chrome lamps that transport patrons “back in time to the ’60s and ’70s”; Special events include a monthly burlesque show called Peek a Boo and DJ Jevi on Fridays and Saturdays playing 80's, Old School HipHop and Dance.

• Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts, located in downtown Orlando, hosts a number of musicals, plays, ballets, and concerts throughout the year.

• SAK Comedy Lab offers improvisational comedy with a hearty dose of audience participation – guests may even get called on stage to participate.

• Mango’s Tropical Café on International Drive is near every major theme park and offers a unique Latin restaurant experience. The world-famous Mango’s Dancers adorn elaborate costumes while dancing to the upbeat music.

Courtesy of Visit Orlando

Oases in the Caribbean

Gay Friendly Resorts of the Caribbean

Just as you can always find an oasis in a desert, you can always find a gay friendly resort in the Caribbean.

The Caribbean may not be known for its progressive attitudes when it comes to LGBTQ+ rights as a whole, but - representing different colonies from around the world - some of the Caribbean islands can be surprisingly gay friendly when it comes to attracting some of those diverse visitors. As such, you can always find resorts catering to the budding LGBTQ+ traveler with just that little bit of research. IGLTA (The International LGBTQ+ Travel

Association) membership always shows that not only is a place gay friendly, but they´ve also gone the extra mile to make it welcoming for the LGBTQ+ community.

So, whether you want to just lay back and listen to the lapping of the waves or dive right into a personalized Caribbean adventure, here are five of the best gay-friendly resorts found on the smaller islands out there in the Caribbean – with varying levels of luxury and affordability - for those who like a touch of sassiness with their sun and sand.

Zemi Beach House – Anguilla

Boasting some of the best beaches in the world, the British colony of Anguilla is certainly easy on the eye and is encircled by unbelievably gorgeous turquoise waters. Anguilla has a few resorts that are IGLTA members, but Zemi Beach House in Anguilla stands out as being one of the most luxurious.

The resort is nestled on one of Anguilla´s best beaches, Shoal Bay, with its fine qualities being further amplified by the resort's beach hut vibes, whilst still gushing with opulence. Their guestrooms, suites and penthouses all offer picturesque views over either the beach or tropical gardens from private balconies and terraces. Zemi Beach House has a wealth of restaurants and bars serving international cuisine with a Caribbean focus and you´ll find an infinity pool and a private spa - within a 300-year-old Thai house imported directly from Thailand. There's even a “Rhum Room” - a space dedicated to drinking copious amounts of rum. Would a trip to the Caribbean be complete without rum?!

Thuishaven Gay Boutique Resort – Curacao

Curacao is famous for being one of the most gay-friendly islands in the Caribbean. The Netherlands has a reputation for being open and inclusive and this mentality extends to its island territories. Curacao is a melting pot of over 55 different cultures, proving all are welcome and it goes far beyond simply being tolerant. It even has the most hotels and attractions with IGLTA memberships in all the Caribbean. One of the best is Thuishaven Gay Boutique Resort in Wi, which is a small, yet well situated by all the best beaches, adults only resort. Whilst sold as a gay resort, all genders and sexualities are welcome – they do however have men only weeks in March and April.

The resort straddles the line between being a collection of luxury apartments and a guest house by having gorgeous little shared gardens between the apartments, which offer the opportunity to meet other guests – or some late-night flirting. Furthermore, to end those pesky tan lines, there's a clothing-optional pool with attached bar and lounge areas.

Amsterdam Manor Beach Resort – Aruba

Aruba - like Curacao - is one of the islands that is part of the “Dutch Caribbean”. Also, like Curacao, it is ravishingly beautiful and brimming with jaw dropping beaches. Amsterdam Manor Beach Resort is a family-owned business found on one such beach, which shows its alliance with the LGBTQ+ community both by flying a pride flag, posting positive social media during Pride and – appealing

to our own hearts - by serving a Passions Rainbow cocktail at their main bar.

The building is inspired by Dutch Baroque architecture and the hotel is clean, ultra-modern and highly renovated. There´s rooms, suites and studios which offer comfort at an affordable price and free access to sun loungers to either while away the day at their pool, or on the characteristically beautiful Caribbean beach in front of the resort. Amsterdam Manor Beach resort is a true Caribbean oasis on Aruba and an ideal secure base to explore the rest of the island.

Rosewood Le Guanahani - St. Barths

Saint Barth is an island simply drenched in luxury and European sophistication. The French Caribbean Island is a land of high-class bars, restaurants, cafes and designer stores overlooking perfect white sandy beaches with yachts bobbing on crystal clear waters. There are no gay hotels per se, but same sex marriage is legal and it is extremely popular with gay celebrities such as Calvin Klein and Ricky Martin. Rosewood Le Guanahani Resort capitalizes on this and recently hosted the honeymoon of power couple Simon Huck (founder of Command Entertainment group) and Phil Riportella (cofounder of Snif fragrance brand).

Rosewood Le Guanahani stretches over its own peninsula over 18 tropical acres along Marigot Bay and Grand Culde-sac Lagoon, which is as beautiful as it sounds. They are a real study in luxury with a grand pool, multiple bars and restaurants serving Mediterranean themed cuisine. You can even splash out on your own private suite complete with your own private pool should you be lucky enough to have the funds.

Sand Castle on the Beach - St.Croix

Saint Croix is the biggest of the United States Virgin Islands. For such a big island it is not as popular with tourists, which is surprising given how drop-dead gorgeous it is. Sand Castle on the Beach is a cute and quietly stylish resort in St. Croix that is not only gay-owned but its owners have also been key players in the push for LGBTQ+ rights across the Caribbean islands.

Sand Castle on the Beach is aptly named as it melds effortlessly into the beach in front of it. The whole resort has a tranquil tropical environment and is perfectly placed to help you just relax and take in the beauty around you. It also sports not one but two freshwater pools – including an adult only clothing optional pool. For the adventurous they also offer complimentary kayaks, snorkeling gear, and onsite scuba diving classes. So, dive right in . . . or don't. It's really up to you.

Content Courtesy of Two Bad Tourists | Photo Courtesy of Zemi Beach House / Two Bad Tourists

Visit Lauderdale Mobile Ale Trail Passport

Experience 12 craft breweries throughout Greater Fort Lauderdale

Visit Lauderdale, the official destination marketing organization for Greater Fort Lauderdale in South Florida, is debuting the new mobile-exclusive Visit Lauderdale Ale Trail Passport. The “Yachting Capital of the World” welcomes everyone under the sun to experience a curated collection of 12 craft breweries throughout the region. This is the first time the destination is showcasing its offerings with a mobile pass.

“Greater Fort Lauderdale is a beer aficionado’s dream vacation. After you’ve experienced our beautiful beaches, explore beyond and step into our breweries packed with local flavors, unique ambiances, and gracious hospitality,” says Stacy Ritter, CEO and President Visit Lauderdale. “With our Visit Lauderdale Ale Trail Passport, we’ve made it easy to indulge and savor some refreshing brews during your escape to our tropical paradise.”

Visit Lauderdale has partnered with the technology company Bandwango to launch the passport, a free mobile-exclusive digital pass that all locals and visitors can sign up for. With many breweries tucked away, this passport makes it easy to discover Greater Fort

About Visit Lauderdale

Lauderdale’s thriving brewery scene and to go where the locals go or to create your own tour.

Visitors and locals visit a dedicated mobile passport landing page where they can sign up for the Visit Lauderdale Ale Trail Passport by providing their name, email address, and mobile phone number. A link is then sent via text to their mobile phone, which opens the passport and directs the user to add the button icon to their home screen, where they can access it at any time. There is never anything to download and no bulky apps take up space on a user’s phone.

As locals and visitors work their way through the Visit Lauderdale Ale Trail, they will be automatically checked in and collect points to redeem limited-edition Visit Lauderdale swag, including hats and beer bottle opener keychains. They will also enjoy exclusive deals and discounts at Ale Trail stops.

To sign up to receive your link to the Visit Lauderdale Ale Trail Passport, go to visitlauderdale.com/ale-trail. For more details on all the breweries in the Greater Fort Lauderdale region, visit visitlauderdale.com/nightlife/breweries/.

Visit Lauderdale is the official destination marketing organization for Greater Fort Lauderdale and serves as the tourism department for Broward County, Florida. Visit Lauderdale promotes the area’s 31 municipalities to a global audience of leisure and business travelers as the ideal place for Everyone Under the Sun in recognition of the area’s diverse and welcoming vibe, and books conventions into the Greater Fort Lauderdale/Broward County Convention Center and Area hotels and resorts. @VisitLauderdale on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube.

Content and Photo Courtesy of Visit Lauderdale

Visit Lauderdale

Championing LGBT+ Rights for Almost 30 Years

Choosing a destination for your next vacation can be challenging, especially if more than one person is involved in making the decision. If choosing the perfect place to travel isn't challenging enough, questions about safety and acceptance like, “Will I feel safe?” “How will samesex couples be treated in the destination I’m considering visiting?” or “Is same sex marriage even legal there?” are often top of mind for LGBT+ visitors.

That’s where Greater Fort Lauderdale comes in. Known as Florida’s LGBT+ capital, this diverse, inclusive, and cosmopolitan destination makes addressing these concerns easy. In fact, they’ve been proudly courting and celebrating the LGBT+ community for decades and currently welcome more than 1.1 million LGBT+ visitors each year.

Beyond the power of pride, LGBT+ leisure visitors spend $1 billion collectively while here, making them a significant economic force. When it comes to business ownership, the neighboring cities of Fort Lauderdale and Wilton Manors are home to hundreds of gay-owned hotels, bars, clubs, restaurants, and shops. In Greater Fort Lauderdale’s luxury real estate industry, LGBT+ buyers are highly sought after, as their household income is approximately

double the national average. According to 2021 U.S. government census data, the LGBT+ community is the fastest growing minority segment in the U.S., with close to $1.4 trillion spending power making it a sector that most destinations cannot afford to exclude.

The vision and enthusiasm for being a world-renowned, diverse, LGBT+ travel destination comes in large part from Visit Lauderdale, the official destination marketing organization for Greater Fort Lauderdale, which realized long ago that embracing the destination’s diverse, LGBT+ population is not just the right thing to do, but is also good for business.

“Back in 1996, we were the first convention and visitor’s bureau in the world to actively court LGBT+ travelers, with a dedicated gay marketing representative and budget devoted to gay tourism and travel,” recalls Richard Gray, Visit Lauderdale’s Senior Vice President of Inclusion and Accessibility. “In those days, we were unsure of how our messaging would be received by stakeholders in the mainstream travel industry. We did not have the confidence to come right out and say gay, so we used rainbow imagery instead.”

Fast forward to October 2022 when, with conviction, creativity and bold action, Visit Lauderdale unveiled its vibrant, new brand campaign “Everyone Under the Sun,” highlighting Greater Fort Lauderdale’s authentic welcoming vibe and its inclusive community. The destination’s commitment to inclusion is evident in tourism ads starring locals of all ethnicities, disabilities, and members of the area’s LGBT+ community showcased against a backdrop of Greater Fort Lauderdale’s natural assets. The new brand campaign also goes a step further, to incorporate transgender models into its mainstream tourism ads.

“We are exceptionally proud of our new brand campaign, ‘Everyone Under the Sun,’” said Stacy Ritter, president and CEO of Visit Lauderdale. “This is so much more than just a campaign; it is a revelation of who we really are - a brilliantly diverse and welcoming community.”

Glorious weather meets progressive thinking

From the time Greater Fort Lauderdale embraced the destination’s diversity almost 30 years ago, LGBT+ travelers have been receptive to the message and it shows with record-setting visitation. Because they feel

safe and welcome here, many not only return for multiple visits but put down roots, buying homes and becoming full time residents. Today, Greater Fort Lauderdale is recognized as Florida’s LGBT+ capital and home to the largest percentage of same-sex couple households in the U.S. The destinations’ progressive thinking, warm weather, and 3,000 hours of annual sunshine are just a few of the reasons why.

Yet, beyond the obvious benefits of abundant sunshine, tropical beaches, lively nightlife, and comparable affordability, the ability to live and work authentically in a community where you are valued and can live safely out in the open has been invaluable. Explosive growth in the area’s gayborhoods of Wilton Manors and Fort Lauderdale has been attributed to new residents opening and operating businesses, paying taxes, and contributing to Greater Fort Lauderdale’s impressive growth.

“We became more confident in our stance, becoming braver and gutsier in our marketing efforts,” said Gray. “As the vanguard in global gay travel, we were mindful of including both gay travelers and our destination’s core travel base, in other words, Everyone Under the Sun.”

A resilient oasis

According to Ritter, the evolution of Greater Fort Lauderdale’s LGBT+ destination marketing has been an asset for not only gay-friendly hotels and restaurants, but for Greater Fort Lauderdale as a whole. She credits the resilience of LGBT+ travelers with helping Greater Fort Lauderdale, as well as other destinations, emerge from tough times. For example, after the tragedy of September 11th, travel came to a standstill throughout the country. It was a precarious time with growing uncertainties surrounding the safety of air travel. The LGBT+ community with its love of travel and Double Income No Kids (DINK) household income was the first sector to resume travel post-9/11 and contributed greatly to the rebound and recovery of the hospitality and tourism industry.

“Had it not been for the fearless gay community, hotel rooms would have remained empty and many of our local businesses could not have survived,” Ritter said.

Whether battling AIDS, hostile political challenges, or discrimination, the gay community has a history of coming

together against all odds and prevailing on the side of fairness and equality.

“The world is filled with destinations that feature beaches, ecotourism, shopping, dining, and entertainment. Our destination has all of that, but what really sets us apart from all the others is the enormous diversity and inclusiveness of our community. It’s who we are that makes us what we are,” said Ritter.

In April 2022, Visit Lauderdale took another bold stance — becoming the only destination marketing organization in the state of Florida to speak out against the controversial Parental Rights in Education Act or Don’t Say Gay law, touted by Governor Ron DeSantis. Ritter and her team at Visit Lauderdale took unprecedented steps to stand alongside the LGBT+ community. Days after the controversial bill was signed into law, she released a statement which read in part, “Travel transcends politics, and decisions made at the Florida state level do not always align with the mission and values of Visit Lauderdale.”

Anticipating the inevitable backlash and economic fallout from Don’t Say Gay, Visit Lauderdale produced a courageous promotional video entitled “We Are…” in an effort to inform the world that Greater Fort Lauderdale remains an oasis of acceptance and continues to be an inclusive and welcoming destination.

The “we are welcoming everyone with an open mind, open arms and open hearts” messaging was backed by a $250,000 paid media commitment. Ritter stressed that visitors to Greater Fort Lauderdale can be assured they are in a place where diversity, inclusion, and acceptance is actively championed as an established way of life among people throughout the community.

“We encourage you to stand with us in support of the more than 88,000 tourism industry employees who work in our hotels, restaurants, venues, and attractions by booking your trip now,” she said. “The Visit Lauderdale slogan, Everyone Under the Sun, reflects the open and welcoming nature of our community. When we say, ‘Everyone Under the Sun,’ we mean it.”

A “majority minority” county with a large Hispanic and Caribbean-American population, Greater Fort Lauderdale has earned recognition as one of the most progressive destinations in the U.S, with people from 170 countries, speaking more than 147 languages calling the area home.

“Historically, we’ve been an inclusive destination where people commingle,” Gray said. Among our population of about 2 million residents, we truly are a melting pot with more people of color, including more Latinos, and more Asian people here than white people.”

Continuously striving to develop multicultural relationships and make constructive inroads with the accessibility and multicultural travel and tourism industry, Visit Lauderdale believes its Everyone Under the Sun campaign epitomizes what makes Greater Fort Lauderdale truly special. The underlying hope is that authentic and honest marketing will bring about real and lasting acceptance.

“I’m privileged to utilize Visit Lauderdale’s platform to

amplify our message of acceptance, inclusivity, and accessibility for all,” said Gray, who was born in Great Britain and has family and friends around the world. “It’s my personal goal to help make the world a better and more accepting place for all.”

Visit Lauderdale considers Everyone Under the Sun to be much more than a traditional advertising initiative. It raises the bar on inclusiveness for other travel markets who can observe and learn from the progress Greater Fort Lauderdale has made over the last three decades. Ritter and Gray understand that they can’t take the progress

they’ve made for granted, recognizing that it could fall victim to hostile political forces. And that’s why they stay committed to speaking out in support of equal rights in travel and tourism, whether the issue is race, gender, disability, or any other unjust barrier that favors one group over others.

“Nothing we do at Visit Lauderdale is more important than respecting the rights of all people and making them feel welcome here,” Ritter said. “Diversity enriches us all with new knowledge and experiences, and that’s really what traveling is all about.”

To learn more about Visit Lauderdale’s Inclusion & Accessibility efforts, check out www.VisitLauderdale.com/diversity.

President & CEO of Visit Lauderdale

What’s your connection to the LGBT+ community?

My only connection is personal, having a gay stepson. I have, however, been an ally of the LGBT+ community ever since I can remember. I never gave it a second thought to not support every person’s right to respect, dignity, and the freedom to be who they are. I’ve never cared if a person is attracted to someone of the same sex and have never understood people who are so desperately twisted that they live their lives sticking their noses in others’ business. Plus, the parties are SO much more fun!

Why is inclusivity so important?

I was 10 years old the first time I was called a derogatory name for being Jewish. The boy who called me that name was also 10 years old. As the only Jewish person in my class, I felt like an outsider. And that feeling of not being accepted stuck with me and has probably helped shape the opinions I have on inclusivity. We all deserve equal access to opportunities and resources, regardless of our sexual orientation or gender identity, and regardless of our color or our religions or non-religious beliefs, and regardless of what pronouns we use.

What do you want your legacy to be?

Ah, the legacy question . . . it’s always asked when one reaches or is close to the end of their career! I would prefer to hear what other people think my

legacy is while I am still alive and be able to hear it. I think it would be interesting.

What was your favorite memory from the ‘Everyone Under The Sun’ shoot?

My favorite memory is tough to pinpoint because there are so many. But I think it was the last shoot we did on the rooftop at 1WLO. We knew the shot was provocative and edgy, but the surprise twist at the end got everyone’s attention. More importantly, by the end of the week we had become a family with the talent and the crew. We all enjoyed each other’s company so much and laughed so much that it was a delight. The crew and the talent totally bought into our message so while it was hard work, the wrap was bittersweet. I felt that I made lifelong relationships with members of the crew and there were more than a few tears when we said “so long”.

What do you see for Greater Fort Lauderdale’s future?

I believe the future of my hometown is bright. I see Greater Fort Lauderdale as continuing on its path of celebrating diversity and inclusion. I see a growing and evolving destination with a welcoming and cosmopolitan vibe represented by the people who live here and embrace our “Everyone Under the Sun” message. My fervent hope is that, someday, we can say that of the whole of my beloved home state.

Rosie’s Bar & Grill

Pub on the Drive New Patio

The Pub on The Drive, a favorite spot to meet and greet in Wilton Manors, is expanding and you are invited to play “Name That Patio” for a chance to win $200 in Pub gift cards.

Already welcoming visitors to The Drive is the newly completed 80-foot sidewalk awning. Covering 50 seats with tables, patrons can spy all the street action while enjoying favorite drinks and food. Take a few steps inside to find friendly bartenders, seats at the bar, and many tables. Live entertainment here makes The Pub unique along the strip. Upcoming entertainment includes Pamela Stanley scheduled for April 8, 2023.

Even more is on the way. Expected to open by Memorial

Day, The Pub is now under construction to offer an outdoor patio bar. The all-covered area will seat 60 in a tropical oasis in the heart of Wilton Manors. With this expansion, The Pub can boast the title “the largest square foot bar on The Drive”. The new outdoor area will offer a full size bar with total food service and the same indoor Happy Hour and daily food specials.

Celebrate The Pub’s expansion by entering the “Name That Patio” contest. The fortunate winner will not only earn bragging rights, but will also win $200 in gift cards to The Pub. A grand opening celebration and announcement of the patio name will soon be set. Be sure to take advantage of the following Happy Hour and daily food specials.

To “Name That Patio”, submit your entry to info@thepub.com

SunServe Night at Pub on The Drive

Photos Courtesy of SRL Media | More photos at www.Facebook.com/OutClique

New Pet Project Fundraiser

The Pet Project has a new fundraiser and it’s bringing a little friendly competition to Pub On the Drive. The organization is holding its first Toss Fur Paws, a cornhole tournament designed to put ‘fun’ in the term fundraiser.

Cornhole is a sport that’s accessible to just about anyone, and Pet Project Executive Director Sue Martino says that's the point. “The toss is for everyone,” she told OutClique. “Not everyone can do push ups. I am even doing this one.”

The idea is the brainchild of board member Robert Russotto and Martino says the response from the community has been strong.

This is the first time Pub On the Drive has hosted an event with Pet Project. “Toss Fur Paws will be loads of fun,” manager Tim Barton told OutClique. “Hopefully supporters will create teams of up to four friends to compete. However, individuals participating will be incorporated into this afternoon of fun competition too!”

The competition on Saturday, April, 22, 2023 at 2pm,

will be held in their back parking lot, with food and drink specials served up on the patio and inside.

Pub On the Drive has hosted afterparties with Pet Project, and Barton says they are a great community partner. “We believe in this hometown nonprofit’s mission which has for over two decades been dedicated to keeping pets with people, no matter the circumstances.”

Toss Fur Paws is an addition to Pet Project’s calendar. They will still hold their annual Bowl-A-Thon on July 15, and Push Ups for Pets on October 14. Martino says it’s all about connecting with the community in fun ways. “We rely on our fundraisers for one third of our overall expenses. We have been looking for a third or fourth huge fundraiser.”

The Pet Project’s mission is to help keep people with their pets despite difficult circumstances. Originally created to keep HIV/AIDS patients with their companions, they’ve expanded to include the elderly, disabled, and terminally ill. Funds raised are directed to providing food, veterinarian services, fostering, and finding homes for pets suffering from the loss of their human companion.

April 22, 2023

Author: John Hayden |

Photo courtesy of The Pet Project

Georgie's Alibi Monkey Bar

Photos Courtesy of SRL Media | More photos at www.Facebook.com/OutClique

Georgie's Alibi Monkey Bar

Photos Courtesy of SRL Media

Charles' Birthday Party at LeBoy

Photos Courtesy of SRL Media

LIT 3rd Anniversary

Photos Courtesy of SRL Media | More photos at www.Facebook.com/OutClique

Eagle Wilton Manors Bears in the Alley

Get the Party Started with Kelly Razzberry

Whether she’s working the front door at the Manor or entertaining a crowd at Azucar, Miami-based drag queen Kelly Razzberry knows how to get the party started and make your time with her unforgettable.

Outclique caught up with the proclaimed “Plus Size Diva of Miami” to learn more about her as an artist and performer, how she fell into the crazy world of drag, and what more she hopes to accomplish with her career and platform. In addition to the Manor and Azucar, Razzberry also appears regularly at the Pub and Alibi.

Denny Patterson: Can you begin by telling us who Kelly Razzberry is and what she’s all about?

Kelly Razzberry: Kelly Razzberry is very fun, outgoing, and sociable. I call myself Tía Kelly for all the new generations coming in (laughs).

Denny Patterson: How would you describe your drag style and aesthetic?

Kelly Razzberry: To me, my drag style is very old school. I love old school glam and queens. I was thinking about this because I had a feeling you were going to ask me, I started doing drag in 2013, but while I was growing up, I saw all these icons coming onto the scene and I just modeled after them. They inspired me. This newer generation is very much fashion forward, but I like the feel of how drag was to me back in the day. That’s what keeps me going.

Denny Patterson: How did you discover your love and passion for drag?

Kelly Razzberry: I was going to school at Miami-Dade for communications, and I used to go to Club Aqua when it was $5 when you were 18. That’s where I met my drag mother, Kimberly Gomez, who worked there as a receptionist. One day, she was like, I want to put you in drag. I was so curious, so I went along with it. When she put me in drag, I was like, oh my God. Something came over me. I saw myself as something else, and I just found love. I competed for Drag Wars at Azucar, and that’s where I got my little training wheels. I wanted to see what this was all about, and it’s been a journey ever since.

Denny Patterson: I love that you are known as the “Plus

Size Diva of Miami.” Is it safe to assume that you advocate for body positivity?

Kelly Razzberry: I do, and I think it’s very important. This year, I hope to compete for Pub at Large, and there’s a new drag queen that recently came onto the scene. She’s amazing. Her name is Kris Love, and the way she puts herself in clothes as a plus size girl is such an inspiration to me. If she can do it and turn those outfits like that, anyone can. She truly inspires me.

Denny Patterson: What can one always expect from a Kelly Razzberry performance?

Kelly Razzberry: After I posted something on Facebook, and this is where Facebook gets me in trouble (laughs), somebody said something that implied that I was boring. At the end of the day, doing drag and performing, I do it for the community. I think it’s very important because when we get into drag, we’re supposed to be these warriors and protectors. We may bring this energy, but it’s about having fun. It’s just fun. You can’t take it seriously. I sometimes get wrapped up in my head and think about certain things, but you just have to go on with the performance and have fun.

Denny Patterson: There are hundreds of drag artists in South Florida. How do you stand out above the rest?

Kelly Razzberry: There really are so many when it comes to drag artists, and I’m still trying to find my own way, but I think I stand out by the fact that I’m always creating. I live with my grandmother, and she’s always getting upset and saying, you’re always buying new things! But always creating, always looking different, always evolving your look - that’s who I am. I can’t stay with the same look. If I do, I become bored. It’s like, where am I going? When I see the same outfits over and over again in my closet, I’m like, no, no, no. I need to buy something new. A new wig, new earrings, change up something. So, I think that’s how Kelly Razzberry stands out. She’s always bringing something new.

Denny Patterson: What are some future goals you hope to accomplish with your drag career and platform?

Kelly Razzberry: Oh, gosh! There’s so much that I want to do. I’d love to win a pageant and have at least one crown. I’d love to open my own drag business, my own entertainment business, a restaurant where I can really be the queen of that venue. So much.

Author: Denny Patterson | Photo Courtesy of Juan Medero

A BETTER BUSINESS. BBB® Accredited Businesses are committed to operating with integrity, honoring promises, and telling the truth. Makes you wonder why all businesses aren’t BBB Accredited?

Always look for the BBB Accredited Business Seal, because it’s looking out for you. That’s why it’s The Sign of a Better BusinessSM . Find a Better Business anytime at BBB.org.

2022 BBB Scam Tracker Report

Findings from the annual BBB Scam Tracker Risk Report can provide timely insights on how you can protect yourself from scammers. Key highlights and tips are provided below, but you can read the full report at BBBMarketplaceTrust. org/RiskReport.

Top 5 Riskiest Scams Reported by Consumers

Ranking Scam Type

1 Online purchase

2 Employment

3 Cryptocurrency

4 Home improvement

5 Advance fee loan

Online shopping scam highlights:

Scam Type Definition

Scammers offer attractive online deals but, once the payment is made, no product or service is delivered. In some cases, fraudsters send low-quality or counterfeit products.

Job applicants are led to believe they are applying for or have just been hired for a promising new job when instead they have given personal information via a fake application or money to scammers for “training” or “equipment.” In another variation, a person may be “overpaid” with a fake check and asked to wire back the difference.

Investors are scammed into paying money or trading their own digital assets, known as cryptocurrencies, even though the scammer has no intention of building a company. These scams also involve scenarios in which investors store their cryptocurrencies with fraudulent exchanges.

Door-to-door solicitors offer quick, low-cost repairs and then either take payment without returning, do shoddy work, or “find” issues that dramatically raise the price. These types of schemes also often occur after a natural disaster.

A loan is guaranteed but once the victim pays up-front charges such as taxes or a “processing fee,” the loan never materializes.

• 31.9% of all scams reported in 2022 were online purchase scams.

• 74.0% of those who reported being targeted by online purchase scams lost money.

• Online purchase scams were the #1 riskiest scam type for ages 35 to 64.

Other key highlights:

• Online scams were more likely to result in a reported monetary loss than those perpetrated in person or via phone.

• In 2022, people ages 18 to 24 reported a higher median dollar loss ($220) than other age groups for the first time since we began publishing the BBB Scam Tracker Risk Report in 2016.

• Scammers continue to target people using text message, up 39.6% from 2021. Scams perpetrated via text message had the second highest reported median dollar loss ($579) behind those perpetrated in person ($715).

• Employment scams rose on the list of riskiest scams in 2022 due to a high reported median dollar loss ($1,500) and an increase in submissions. This scam type was the #1 riskiest for ages 18-34 years old.

• Home improvement scams—the #4 riskiest scam

type—had a high median dollar loss ($1,500). This scam type was the #1 riskiest for ages 65+.

These tips can help you avoid most scams and protect yourself and your family:

1. Never send money to someone you have not met face-to-face.

2. Don’t click on links or open attachments in unsolicited email or text messages. If the person claims to be somebody you know or a well-known organization, contact the person directly or go directly to your account to confirm the details.

3. Don’t believe everything you see or read. Scammers are great at mimicking official seals, fonts, websites, and other details.

4. Take precautions when making online purchases. Avoid making quick purchases while browsing social media. Research all product offers. Check out every business on bbb.org and whenever possible, look for businesses that are BBB Accredited. BBB Accredited Businesses are vetted by BBB and agree to work with BBB to resolve complaints.

5. Be extremely cautious when dealing with anyone you’ve met online, take your time, don’t share personal information with unsolicited contacts and use common sense.

Preventing the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) with Health Screenings and Vaccinations

HPV is the most common sexually transmitted infection (STI). There are more than 200 types of HPV and some types can cause health complications such as genital warts and cancers.

More than 13,000 women in the United States are diagnosed with invasive cervical cancer each year. Now, thanks to cervical cancer screening and HPV vaccination, it is the most preventable of all female cancers. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in most cases, HPV goes away on its own and does not cause any health problems. When HPV does not go away, it may increase health problems like genital warts and cancer.

“Various strains of HPV can spread through sexual contact and are associated with most cases of cervical

cancer. One can get HPV by having vaginal, anal, or oral sex with someone who has the virus. HPV can be passed even when an infected person has no signs or symptoms. Anyone who is sexually active can get HPV. Symptoms can develop years after you have sex with an infected individual. This makes it challenging to know when you first became infected.” -Sheryl Zayas, D.O. Medical Director, Care Resource.

Care Resource specializes in women’s health care which includes health education, routine Pap smears and follow up, breast cancer screenings, and referrals for colonoscopy. Regular and specialized obstetrical care is provided through referrals. Make an appointment today. For more information, please visit careresource.org or contact 305.576.1234.

About Care Resource:

Care Resource is a 501(c) (3) nonprofit organization and a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) with four locations in Midtown Miami, Little Havana, Miami Beach, and Fort Lauderdale. The health center provides comprehensive health and support services to address the full health care needs of South Florida’s pediatric, adolescent, and adult populations.

When Your Friends Do Not Understand Your Mental Health Situation

Do you struggle with your mental health and have a difficult time in getting the people you know to be more understanding?

In some cases, your colleagues might give you a hard time regarding your anxieties and depression.

As a result, here are seven suggestions on how to deal with the people you know regarding your mental health issues.

Tell your friends to learn about your situation: Explain to your peers that the best way for them to help you is to learn about your mental health issues. They could talk to a counselor, read some good books, or join a support group to better understand your situation.

Distance yourself from those who give you

Listen to the professionals and not your Your peers may mean well, but when it comes down to it, the professionals are more aware of your circumstances than anyone. A counselor knows what you are going through and can help you deal with your problems. When you have questions about your mental health, consult with a therapist.

Don’t argue with others: It is important that you do not get into arguments with those who are giving you a rough time. Your number one priority is to get relief from your anxieties. It is not your job to worry about how others may view your circumstances. Your health is more important than what

Distance yourself from those who won’t make an effort to help understand what you are going through. You need to surround yourself with positive and supportive people. If you have problems or issues with a particular person, you can always ask a counselor for advice.

It can be very frustrating to manage your fear-related issues when the people you know are on your case. Remember, you are not alone. There are millions of people around the world who struggle with their fears, anxieties, and depression. The key is to find those people who can relate to you through various

Your goal is to get better: Concentrate on how you can face your fears and anxieties. Don’t waste your time arguing with your colleagues who are giving you a difficult time. This isn’t a public relations event where you need to get approval from everyone. This is your life and you are the one suffering. Your main focus is to get better.

Author: Stan Popovich

Join a local mental health support group: There are many mental health awareness support groups in your area. Many hospitals, churches, and counselors in your area will be able to provide you with a list of these organizations. These groups will be aware of your situation and can give you additional advice regarding your problems.

In addition, talk to a professional who can help relieve your depression and anxieties. They will be able to provide you with suggestions and insights on how to deal with your current problem.

Stan Popovich is the author of the popular managing fear book, A Layman’s Guide to Managing Fear. www.managingfear.com.

SEMAGLUTIDE Weight-Loss Breakthrough

Semaglutide is not just a weight loss medication - it’s a game-changing breakthrough that revolutionizes how we think about burning fat. If you’ve struggled with losing those extra pounds in the past, you know how frustrating it can be to try diet after diet only to see little or no results. But now, you can finally shatter that plateau to slim down and achieve the body you’ve always wanted.

Why is Semaglutide such a breakthrough in losing weight? It’s because it targets the root cause of overeating - our appetite. By mimicking a hormone called GLP-1, which helps to regulate hunger and food intake, it can reduce your impulse and cravings to overeat; thus, making it easier to stick to a healthy routine. And the results are truly astounding! In clinical trials, participants lost an average of 15-20% of their body weight, significantly more than typically achieved with diet and exercise alone.

Think about it, if you weigh 250 pounds, you could potentially lose 50 pounds.

And according to weight-loss expert Dr. Ferdinand Cabrera with Genesis Health Institute, the benefits don’t stop there. This medical development has also positively affected other health conditions, such as reducing blood sugar levels and improving insulin sensitivity. It can also lower blood pressure and cholesterol levels, reducing the risk of heart disease.

“What’s truly remarkable about Semaglutide is it’s safe and well-tolerated. Unlike many other weight-reducing medications on the market, it has few side effects. The most common are mild and usually subside after a few weeks,” said Cabrera.

In short, Semaglutide is spearheading and changing how we approach weight loss. It’s highly effective, safe, and can improve your overall health, in addition to helping you get fit. If you’re tired of struggling with your weight and want to finally see the results you’ve been dreaming of, talk to Dr. Cabrera about Semaglutide today.

Schedule a complimentary consultation with Genesis Health Institute, conveniently located in Wilton Manors. Call 954-561-3175 or visit ghinstitute.com to learn more.

Content and photo by Baxter Martin, courtesy of Genesis Health Institute | Sponsored Editorial

SEMAGLUTIDE Weight Loss Breakthrough

A game-changing breakthrough that revolutionizes how we think about burning fat:

• Targets the root cause of overeating - our appetite.

• By mimicking a hormone called GLP-1, which helps to regulate hunger and food intake, it can reduce your impulse and cravings to overeat; thus, making it easier to stick to a healthy routine.

• The results are truly astounding! In clinical trials, participants lost an average of 15-20% of their body weight. Think about it, if you weigh 250 pounds, you could potentially lose 50 pounds.

• It has positively affected other health conditions, like reducing blood sugar levels, improving insulin sensitivity, lowering blood pressure and cholesterol levels, and reducing the risk of heart disease.

If you’re tired of struggling with your weight and want to finally see the results you’ve been dreaming of, talk to me about Semaglutide today.

SunServe & AHF Announce a New Affiliation

Two major advocates for LGBTQA healthcare are forming a new partnership to benefit thousands, if not millions, of South Floridians.

After more than a year of strategic planning, SunServe and AHF (AIDS Healthcare Foundation) are launching a new affiliation agreement that will align key services

from each organization. Both institutions are excited that this will complement and enhance their current scope of services, while allowing them to explore new opportunities as the future unfolds. OutClique’s March 2023 cover story featured SunServe and its CEO Tony Lima. OutClique was also honored to feature AHF in our June 2019 cover story.

AHF is a nonprofit global organization that provides HIV/ AIDS care and services. SunServe, also a nonprofit organization, provides critical life assistance and mental health services. However, their constituents include all members of the LGBTQ”A+” community. The new affiliation was first announced publicly at the Florida AIDS Walk & Music Festival (March 18, 2023) and SunServe’s Studio Shine Gala (March 24, 2023).

SunServe originally began by offering care for seniors around 2002. Since then, the organization has worked to expand their vision to encompass youth, trans, and their core work of mental health services, including counseling for substance use, becoming part of the services provided. Additionally, SunServe provides housing for homeless LGBTQ youth, a much needed resource given today’s South Florida’s economic landscape. As a complimentary offering, a sober house for queer people struggling with substance use disorder is available, as so many more individuals are identifying with this need.

“We are at a pivotal moment for growth and expansion. This year, in 2023, we will have the resources to help more people than ever before, while continually working to extend our reach. With our strategic partnership with AHF, we have the opportunity to expand beyond Broward County, into Miami-Dade and Palm Beach Counties. We are excited to expand not only our geographical boundaries, but also our scope of services.

The need for mental healthcare has grown substantially since the pandemic. Now and in the near future, an even greater number of individuals will be able to utilize SunServe and AHF’s combined resources. These medical and pharmaceutical divisions will now be more readable and available as comprehensive health management and care for numerous South Florida residents. And ultimately, increase our goals to a statewide provision of care.” (Tony Lima)

Russell Walker (Deputy Bureau Chief, AHF Southern Bureau) says both organizations and those they serve will be able to reach a larger audience both geographically and demographically. “With the enhanced and expanded trans, youth, and substance use mental health services, all clients will greatly benefit from this new partnership. We have always been forward thinking in healthcare leadership, innovation, and preparation, while providing a sustainable model through ever changing socioeconomic challenges, even on a global scale. Thus, the vision of AHF has and will continue to be focused on providing quality healthcare worldwide. Our new partnership with SunServe is an excellent opportunity at this critical time in our local and national time of social, economic, and health disparity crises.”

Locations

SunServe’s brick and mortar offices are relocating to AHF’s downtown Fort Lauderdale location, the space under current renovation. Additionally, a new intake center is slated for Wilton Manors.

The Noble McArtor Senior Center will remain at SunServe’s south campus, physically located at SunShine Cathedral. However, the Youth Services division will transfer to the downtown AHF campus. With more access to public transportation, Lima says the move should help kids access needed care. “We are seeing more and more youth come to us who need more than just mental health care or life coaching. More and more individuals are sexually active and want to know about HIV and their options with PrEP..”

A primary goal of the partnership is to create a more seamless experience for patients between their mental health and medical care needs. “We want to provide a continuity of care for our clients that encompasses all ranges of care.,” Lima said.

Authors: John Hayden & Steven O. Evans, PhD

Photo Courtesy of David Rosario

MISTR

Long-Term HIV Care

MISTR, the telehealth platform built to provide free and discreet online access to pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), has expanded its offering to include long-term HIV treatment. Through MISTR, people who test positive for HIV will now be able to connect virtually with a physician and build a long-term care plan with no out-of-pocket costs or in-office doctors’ appointments. MISTR’s free online PrEP and HIV services are available in all 50 states, DC, and Puerto Rico.

MISTR serves gay and bisexual men, a population disproportionately impacted by HIV. In fact, gay and bisexual men accounted for over 70% of new HIV infections in 20201. With the introduction of long-term HIV care, MISTR now offers two options for reducing the spread of the virus: PrEP and antiretroviral therapy (ART). With HIV medications, patients who have tested positive may reach an undetectable viral load that not only helps them stay healthy but can prevent transmission of the virus to an HIV-negative partner as well, known as undetectable = untransmissible (U=U).

“HIV is still a very real concern and the best way we can support our community is by making prevention and treatment as easy as possible,” commented Tristan Schukraft, founder of MISTR. “We’ve heard from thousands of patients this year alone who’ve experienced roadblocks in accessing antiretroviral therapy and we

knew MISTR needed to be part of the solution. With this expansion to our platform, we’re one step closer to a world with far fewer HIV infections, and ideally one day none.”

To access treatment, patients can visit MISTR’s free online platform for a brief health questionnaire and video consultation with a healthcare provider. From there, they’ll complete the required in-person lab at one of 2,200 labs throughout the country, and their HIV medication is shipped next day. Follow-up testing and video consultations are every six months to make adhering to the treatment as seamless as possible.

HIV treatment through MISTR is free of charge for both insured and uninsured. MISTR manages all paperwork and back and forth with insurance companies, and if required will enroll patients in a patient assistance program (PAP) and/or the AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP).

About MISTR

Telemedicine platform offering online access to preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and long-term HIV care in all 50 states, DC and Puerto Rico. MISTR’s services are 100% free through its local partnerships with various nonprofit community based organizations (CBOs). Gay owned and operated, MISTR provides a network of doctors and pharmacists to make PrEP more readily available. No doctor’s office, no paperwork and free delivery. 1https://www.hiv.gov/hiv-basics/overview/data-and-trends/statistics

The ABCs of Skin Cancer

Dermatologist Dr. Will Richardson

Living in the Sunshine State means pool parties, outdoor activities all year, and increased sun exposure. Dr. Will Richardson, founder of Natura Dermatology & Cosmetics in Fort Lauderdale, expects the number of skin cancer cases to rise over the next couple of years and is sharing important advice.

During a chat with OutClique, he gave useful insights into why. During the pandemic, the number of skin cancer cases dropped, but that’s not a good thing. The reason behind the drop is because people skipped regular dermatology checkups and ignored warning signs.

Now that people are getting what they may consider ‘elective’ checkups, Dr. Richardson expects the number of cases to rise. Skin cancer kills 144 Americans a day, and being in sunny Florida, we see more than our share. He has some advice for patients. “We need to create awareness around the A, B, C, D, and Es of melanoma.”

Asymmetry: Do you see a mole where one half looks different from the other

Border: Does a mole or beauty mark have fingerlike projections or a star shaped pattern

Color Variation: The darker the color the more urgency to have it looked at

Diameter: If it’s bigger than a pencil eraser

Evolving Lesions: Take selfies and compare size of moles six months later

Dr. Richardson also suggests applying SPF 30 or higher

to your body and SPF 100 to your face every two hours you’re in the sun.

Feeling Like Home

Dr. Richardson has been a dermatologist for more than 20 years and since opening Natura he’s worked to make his office feel like home for his patients. “They’re coming to a person who’s going to treat them like family, and also in a position that’s going to take care of their skin.”

His interest in dermatology began as a child watching his mother deal with a severely itchy skin condition. That longtime interest is evident after just one visit. “What sets us apart from other practices is passion. When you are passionate about what you’re doing, it’s naturally attractive to people that are drawn to it.”

That passion has made him one of the top doctors in the country for injectables. “There’s almost zero pain with my technique and you’re out having lunch on Las Olas that day.” One popular treatment is fillers for men. “Bellafill is the go-to filler for men. It is a five to ten year filler and the only filler on the market that lasts that long.”

Sagging and collagen loss begins in men around 35, and getting just the right proportions is key. Dr. Richardson says all you have to do is look at the red carpet events in LA. “Men want something that looks more natural. Bellafill doesn’t cause any sharp, defining features as we’ve seen in recent Hollywood stars that shall remain nameless.”

Even if you don’t need specific treatments like fillers or have any signs of skin cancer, Dr. Richardson says it’s still important to get an annual dermatology checkup, just like when you see your family doctor.

Author: John Hayden | Photo Courtesy of Natura Dermatology & Cosmetics

Same great service and trusted expertise, but now with more options, giving you more choices.

Great service from everyone that we’ve been in contact with. Extremely knowledeable and quick to respond. Always professional and ready to help with any questions we have had.

Robert Goodwin

Title Insurance 101 Richard Mandel Explains

There are a lot of hoops to jump through when you buy a home. Many are easily understood, like inspections to make sure the electricity is sound and the roof isn’t going to blow away in a 25 miles-per-hour wind. At closing, there are a lot of boxes to check and costs to sign off on. One of them is title insurance.

We’ve heard of it and bought it even though we may not have a strong grasp of what it is we’re buying. Like most insurances, it’s something we hope we never need to use but is important to have.

Richard Mandel is a licensed title agent with Assure America Title Company at Island City Center in Wilton Manors and in Boca Raton. He has thirty years of experience in real estate, including ten specializing in title insurance. He talked with OutClique about the ins and outs of the product and why having an experienced title agent is key.

“The fact that I have been in the real estate industry, sold real estate for over twenty years, and also have been a managing real estate broker is a major benefit to the realtors that work with me,” Mandel said. “I have walked in their shoes. I know exactly what they do each and every day and what they need from their title partner.”

Essentially, title insurance is a type of insurance that protects the owner of a property from any financial loss or legal issues that may arise from defects or challenges to the ownership of the property. Over the years, Mandel has seen myriad issues arise before closing. “There is no one common thing that we see. The title search depicts all information relating to ownership of the property as well as outstanding claims, liens or encumbrances on title. It also includes public records to ensure the title is clear and there are no undisclosed issues or defects.”

Part of his job is spotting scams which will pop up during the title investigation. “Typically, we see this as a result of the title or lien search. We immediately bring this to the attention of everyone in the transaction and, depending on the source or origin of the problem, we suggest that

Author: John Hayden |

they seek the advice of an attorney and or the county/city, and bank.”

After graduating from Pace University in 1987, he moved to South Florida to work in the retail industry as a buyer for a major department store, but that didn’t last. “I got retail burnout. Once I quit my job in retail, someone suggested I get my Real Estate License and I have never looked back.”

He decided to get his realtors license and after twenty years moved into title insurance. Mandel believes his background is an extra level of protection to buyers and realtors. “I can be an excellent resource to them for any real estate questions they have or problems that may arise during the transaction.”

To learn more about Richard Mandel’s work and expertise, you can contact him at his office at Island City Center in Wilton Manors (2550 NE 15th Ave) or in Boca Raton (595 S. Federal Hwy, #110.

of Richard Mandel

Photo Courtesy

Latinos Salud Gala

SMART Ride 20 Recruits Riders

For new or casual bike riders, a 165 mile trip may as well be a 16,500 mile trip: impossibly long. But with a little training and a little mentoring, and a lot of encouragement, it’s a very realistic goal.

That’s the message The SMART Ride organizers are trying to promote as they get ready for the 20th year of the iconic ride. “It can seem like a lot but it really isn’t,” SMART Ride founder Glen Weinzimer told OutClique . “You find a team, or we’ll put you with a team, and you start small. You work up to a 20 mile ride and get comfortable with that.”

Breaking it into smaller, bite-sized rides, is a strategy Ride veterans still use each year. Weinzimer continued, “The first day of the ride isn’t 100 miles. It’s five, twenty mile rides.”

The SMART Ride is an annual, 165 mile bike trip from Miami to Key West the week before Thanksgiving. It’s the largest of its kind that distributes all proceeds to HIV/AIDS related organizations throughout Florida. The first 19 rides have raised nearly $15 million.

Riders and volunteers have created a familial bond over the years, and pride themselves in encouraging new riders and developing their skills. Robin Martin of Team GearGrinders remembered when he began thinking about doing the ride. “When I first thought of how long the ride is, I thought no. But we began training as a team a few months before the ride. We would do short 10, then 20 mile rides. After a few

weeks we added 2 rides a week and then one long 40 mile a week.”

He agrees that having supportive people at every turn is key. “Breaking into smaller rides really helped me and the team prepare. It's important to have a supportive team.”

One rookie rider this year is new executive director Todd Delmay. He officially joined the group in January. For the big 20th year, he’s shadowing Weinzimer to help make a smooth transition. He realized once he’s in charge, it will be nearly impossible to do the ride. “It’s probably the only opportunity I’ll have as executive director. It’s important, not only as the experience for me but to set the example that anyone can be involved and be a part.”

Delmay says once you decide to ride, supporters will come from unexpected places. “Once you decide to ride, you’ve got friends you never expected saying ‘I’ll ride with you, I’ll do that!’”

Delmay, Weinzimer, and their team say signups are strong, but they want to involve as much of the community as possible. This year, for SMART Ride 20, the goal is to raise a record $2 million dollars.

The money is urgently needed. The theme of this year’s ride is #NoMoreNames, that when we stop HIV/AIDS, we can stop adding new names to AIDS memorial walls, quilts, and other remembrances.

To learn more, make a pledge, or join the ride, visit TheSmartRide.org

Author: John Hayden

Equality Florida Brunch Rusty Pelican

FLiFF Oscar Party at the Home of Steven Savor

For further info email Greg@FLIFF.com.

The 2023 Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival held its annual Oscar Party at the home of FLIFF Chairman Steven Savor. Villa de Palma opened its doors to over 400 attendees. The next event for FLIFF is The Derby Party, Saturday, May 6th at Savor Cinema.

Photos Courtesy of Dadly Filius, Duncan Brink Hurst, Ilmar Saar

Florida AIDS Walk & Music Festival 2023

Florida AIDS Walk & Music Festival 2023

amfAR Raises $3.5m at Second Annual Gala

amfAR, The Foundation for AIDS Research, held its second annual Palm Beach fundraising gala on Saturday, March 11, 2023, at the home of Event Chairs Michele and Howard Kessler.

“I am deeply grateful to Michele and Howard Kessler and to all of our guests who so generously supported amfAR in Palm Beach last night. It is only with their continued support and dedication that we can get closer to developing a cure for HIV/AIDS,” said Kevin Robert Frost, amfAR Chief Executive Officer.

In her remarks, Michele Kessler noted that her family's support for amfAR comes from a desire to “improve the

health and well-being of all people, through investments in education, medical research, human services, and community organizations.” On stage, amfAR Board Co-Chairs Kevin McClatchy and T. Ryan Greenawalt emphasized the importance of continuing to support innovative HIV research studies with breakthrough potential.

Award-winning singer and actress Jane Krakowski opened the evening with a welcome message and beautiful renditions of “Bei Mir Bist Du Schön” and “Don't Cry Out Loud”.

The evening continued with a live auction that included

a variety of artworks and one-of-a kind luxury items and experiences. Auction items included a commissioned Deborah Brown piece, an intimate evening with Andrea Bocelli and family, both of which were so popular were sold twice, a Daniel Boulud dining experience, and more.

Two highlights of the evening were a George Condo, which sold for $1,100,000, and a surprise auction item, which was a day of golf with Greg Norman and Wayne Gretzky.

Florida has the third-highest rate of new HIV infections in the U.S., after Washington, DC, and Georgia. Close to 130,000 people in Florida are living with HIV, including about 8,400 in Palm Beach County. Only about 70% of them are virally suppressed (receiving consistent care), which falls far below the U.S. government’s target of 95%. amfAR has supported scientific studies at research

institutions in Southern Florida since 1986 and has awarded over 90 grants totaling $6 million in the region. Three grants supported community-based education projects in West Palm Beach.

Aston Martin and Brioni were the evening’s sponsors and the event was also supported by Boroli Wines, PiperHeidsieck, RUMOR Rosé, UOVO, Clase Azul Tequila Gold, and Tito’s Handmade Vodka.

About amfAR

amfAR, The Foundation for AIDS Research, is one of the world's leading nonprofit organizations dedicated to the support of AIDS research, HIV prevention, treatment education, and advocacy. Since 1985, amfAR has invested nearly $617 million in its programs and has awarded more than 3,500 grants to research teams worldwide.

FUNDarte and Miami Light Project present:

Miami Beach Bandshell

Saturday, April 8th at 8:00 p.m.

Tickets:

www.miamibeachbandshell.com / 786.453.2897

www.fundarte.us

Rossini’s The Barber of Seville Florida Grand Opera

An exceptional cast of Rossini specialists and South Florida favorites close out FGO’s 2022-23 season in The Barber of Seville, Rossini’s most popular and successful opera of all time. With an overture made famous by Bugs Bunny and Elmer Fudd, the ubiquitous "Figaro, Figaro, FI-GA-RO" of the work's best-known aria, and nonstop comedic antics, this gem has remained a constant and fresh favorite for over 200 years.

The Spanish Count Almaviva enlists the aid of Seville's favorite factotum, the barber Figaro, to gain access to the home of the elderly lawyer Dr. Bartolo in order to court his ward, Rosina. Rosina is not only beautiful, intelligent, and spirited, but quite wealthy, and Bartolo wishes to take advantage of his legal guardianship to force her into marriage. To ensure that Rosina loves him for himself rather than his title and fortune, Almaviva presents himself to her as "Lindoro," a penniless student. Rosina's love is true. Figaro carries notes between the lovers and helps the Count enter the home under the guises of a drunken soldier with housing orders and a substitute music teacher. Each time, his attempts to escape with Rosina are foiled. Upon discovering these plots, Bartolo convinces Rosina

that "Lindoro" is nothing more than a lackey of the wicked Count Almaviva, who is using him to seduce her by proxy. Heartbroken, Rosina agrees to marry Bartolo. Fortunately, Figaro and the Count manage to climb a ladder to her bedroom window, lock Bartolo out, and get the notary to marry Rosina and the Count instead.

The opera is based on 1775's Le barbier de Séville ou la précaution inutile (The Barber of Seville or The Useless Precaution), the first play of the famous trilogy by French polymath Pierre-Augustin Caron de Beaumarchais. Originally intended as a comic opera, with original music and characters based on stock commedia dell'arte characters, it did not achieve lasting success as an opera until Rossini's version burst onto the scene in 1816.

Fresh from a tour with the Metropolitan Opera Guild, South Korean baritone Young-Kwang Yoo makes his FGO debut as the lovable rascal Figaro, a role he previously sang to great acclaim with Cleveland Opera Theater. The rising star has appeared in opera, oratorio, and televised performances throughout the U.S. and South Korea.

Returning as a guest artist after two years in the Studio Program, mezzo-soprano Stephanie Doche brings her brilliant coloratura and charming stage presence to Rosina, having recently performed the role with Gulf Shore Opera. An FGO favorite during her Studio Artist years, Doche won acclaim in the 2022 season as Eunice in A Streetcar Named Desire, Giovanna and Maddalena in Rigoletto, and Narciso in Agrippina

International tenor Michele Angelini returns to FGO as Count Almaviva for the first time since 2013, when he appeared opposite Metropolitan Opera soprano Rachel Gilmore as Elvino in La Sonnambula. In demand as a rare true Rossini tenor and bel canto specialist, Almaviva is one of Angelini's signature roles which he has performed with The Metropolitan Opera, the Edinburgh International Festival, Covent Garden, and The Norwegian Opera, to name a few.

Bass-baritone and FGO stalwart Kristopher Irmiter's 115 roles, performed in every state in the U.S. and throughout

April

Canada, have made him one of North America's most recognized low voices. He returns to FGO to make his role debut as Dr. Bartolo. Previous appearances include Athaniel in Thaïs, Monaoh in Szulamit, Scarpia in Tosca, Oscar Hubbard in Regina, and the title role in 2016's Don Pasquale.

Rounding out the cast are former Studio Artist Brazilian bass-baritone Rafael Porto as Don Basilio and soprano Susan Neves as Berta.

“The Barber of Seville is the perfect ender for our 202223 season,” says FGO General Director and CEO Susan T. Danis. “It’s like the perfect dessert after an excellent meal --- sweet, light, charming, absolutely delectable, and leaving you satisfied. And although it’s a lot of fun, you’re also getting some serious vocal talent. Michele Angelini is one of the top Rossini tenors in the world right now. Young-Kwang Yoo is a real up-and-coming talent. And we are so excited to have our own Stephanie Doche back as Rosina, a role in which she is already making waves.” Content and Photos Courtesy of Florida

Symphony of the Americas

2022 - 2023 SEASON

Pablo Mielgo Artistic Director & Conductor Tickets

Spain… Further Beyond!

Exploring Spain’s Musical Excellence

Guest Artist: Rafael Aguirre

APR11

Schumann & Brahms Bridging –Musical Genius

Guest Artist: Sergei Babayan; piano

MAY9

Symphony of the Americas Presents

Spain…Further Beyond

Symphony of the Americas and Artistic Director Pablo Mielgo welcome guest artist Rafael Aguirre, one of the most sought-after international guitarists of his generation. Aguirre will perform with the symphony’s April 2023 program Spain…Further Beyond , an exploration of Spain’s Musical Excellence. The performance takes place on Tuesday, April 11, 7:45pm at Broward Center for the Performing Arts in the Amaturo Theater.

With solid classical training, Aguirre follows the tradition of late masters Andrés Segovia and Narciso Yepes. The multi-award-winning artist has collaborated with renowned conductors and musicians worldwide and he has performed in the most prestigious venues around the globe, including: New York’s Carnegie Hall, Konzerthaus in Vienna, and Tchaikovsky Hall in Moscow.

Aguirre has also released several albums during his career, two of which were preselected for a Latin Grammy nomination; one under the Naxos Label and the other for RTVE Música (Spanish Radio and Television). His recording work has received enthusiastic reviews as well as appearances on international radio programs including the BBC, NPR, and CBS.

Derived from Spain’s National motto “Plus Ultra,” Further Beyond suggests to push the boundaries and go further. Manuel de Falla and Joaquin Rodrigo – Spain’s foremost composers, knew how to capture the heart of tradition and its folklore, transforming it into symphonic music. Passion, rhythm, dance, and the voice – a union that turns this music into a melting pot of colors and invitation to travel to Spain through its sounds, recognizing its soul, geography and people.

The Program

Manuel de Falla – Amor Brujo Suite (1925) (Love, The Magician)

Joaquin Rodrigo – Aranjuez Concerto for guitar

Manuel de Falla – Sombrero de tres picos Suites 1 & 2 (Three-Cornered Hat)

April 11, 2023

Broward Center for the Performing Arts | www.SOTA.org | www.BrowardCenter.org

About Symphony of the Americas Symphony of the Americas enters its 35th season in 2022-2023 under the direction of Artistic Director and Principal Conductor, Pablo Mielgo. The internationally-recognized artist from Spain, Mielgo, continues Symphony of the Americas’ commitment to serving South Florida’s multicultural population with diverse programming. Symphony of the Americas represents a cultural crossroads of music, ranging from classical to Broadway showcasing artistic excellence and globally-recognized guest artists.

Gold Coast Jazz Society

Jeff Hamilton Trio

It’s been stated again and again that when Jeff Hamilton grabs his drumming sticks and the lights go dim, he brings his crowd to their feet. His versatility on the drums is described as “rollicking and spirited” with vibrations that keep him in demand from industry leaders on both the recording and live performance genres.

This exuberant and lively musician, with reviews that seem as riveting as the performances he offers, will share Rim Shots along with Tamir Hendelman on Piano and Jon Hamar on Bass at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts in Fort Lauderdale, FL on Wednesday, April 12, 2023. Gold Coast Jazz Society is expecting to be rollicking and riveted when this threesome steps on to our stage, and we don’t think we will be disappointed.

Born in Richmond, Indiana, Jeff grew up listening to his parent’s big band records and at the age of eight began playing drums along with Oscar Peterson records. Later he studied with John Von Ohlen and became influenced by Gene Krupa, Buddy Rich, Mel Lewis, “Philly” Joe Jones and Shelly Manne. In 1974, he got his first big break playing with the New Tommy Dorsey Orchestra. He then joined Lionel Hampton’s Band until 1975 when he, along with bassist John Clayton, became members of the Monty Alexander Trio. He attained a childhood goal in 1977 when he joined Woody Herman

and the Thundering Herd, with whom he made several recordings.

In 1978, he was offered the position vacated by Shelly Manne in the L.A.4 with Ray Brown, Bud Shank and Laurindo Almeida. From 1983 to 1987, Jeff performed with Ella Fitzgerald, the Count Basie Orchestra, Rosemary Clooney, and Monty Alexander. In addition to his many recordings with Ray Brown, he has been on nearly 200 recordings with artists such as Natalie Cole, Milt Jackson, Barbra Streisand, Mel Torme, John Pizzarelli, Benny Carter, Lalo Schifrin, George Shearing, Dr. John, Clark Terry, Gene Harris, Toshiko Akiyoshi, Scott Hamilton, Harry “Sweets” Edison, Keely Smith, Bill Holman, Herb Ellis, Barney Kessel and Mark Murphy.

Jeff began his association with the Ray Brown Trio in 1988 and left in March 1995 to concentrate on his own trio. From 1999-2001, the Clayton/Hamilton Jazz Orchestra was named the in-residence ensemble for the Hollywood Bowl Jazz series. The Los Angeles Jazz Society named Jeff and his musical partner, John Clayton, musicians of the year for 2006. Jeff is currently touring with his own Trio, the ClaytonHamilton Jazz Orchestra, and Diana Krall.

We are ready to get to our feet when the Jeff Hamilton Trio shares Rim Shots with our South Florida and Snowbird Audience and we hope you will join us.

April 12, 2023

Author: Samantha Rojas

Broward House Presents Dining Out For Life®

On Thursday, April 13, 2023, Broward House, Inc. is thrilled to announce their eleventh annual Dining Out For Life®. Gather your friends and family for this delicious event and have a meal together at our participating restaurants for a worthy cause. A cause that promotes HIV awareness, combats stigma, supports, and celebrates small businesses, and raises funds for our life-saving programs at Broward House.

On April 13, we invite the community to dine out at our local participating restaurants with a variety of cuisines from breakfast, lunch, and dinner to ice cream and cocktails! Our restaurants will then donate a generous percentage of the day’s proceeds to Broward House, supporting our mission to provide HIV prevention, education, and care to those living with HIV.

The more you dine out, the more money raised for Broward House client care, and the bigger the impact! Your involvement is key to the success of Dining Out For Life® and there are 3 ways you can make a difference: Dine Out, Donate to Broward House, and Share our event! If you’re interested in volunteering opportunities, you can show your community spirit and become a Dining Out For Life® Restaurant Ambassador!

Broward House Care Guide of 17 years, Joyce Nunnally, shares her experience as an Ambassador for the sixth time, “I love it! I get to mingle with people, talk about Broward House’s mission and our impact in the community. It’s a great cause and it’s a lot of fun,” says Joyce.

“Many services that we provide for clients aren’t covered under our grants. Our Dining Out For Life® fundraiser

has been able to provide our clients and their families with items like backpacks, school supplies for kids, work clothes, burial assistance, and other things,” said Joyce. Broward House CEO Stacy Hyde states, “Each year during Dining Out For Life® we reach someone who was not aware of our services. We know that someone will talk about HIV who maybe was not comfortable before a Broward House ambassador spoke with them. We are grateful to our restaurants for giving of themselves and providing a space to share our mission. We will get 100% of people in care and prevent new infections by continually raising awareness and DOFL is a fun way to do it!”

This year we welcome Tito’s Handmade Vodka as our Dining Out For Life® event title sponsor! Tito’s will match all Tito’s cocktails in our restaurants for up to $7,500. This year we have 28 restaurants from which to choose. Restaurant partners include our “Legacy Restaurants,” which have supported Broward House every year for the event’s eleven-year run: Apt. 9f, Rosie’s Bar & Grill, Hunters, The Over Easy Café, Georgie’s Alibi, and Wilton Creamery. Additionally, several restaurants have committed to donating an impressive 50% of their gross sales to Broward House: Apt. 9f, Burgers and Beers, and Wilton Creamery. Voo La Voo Café has committed to donating 100%! Hunters Nightclub has committed to donate 100% of proceeds from Tito’s cocktails and Scandals Saloon will donate 50% of their Tito’s Cocktails on April 13th. For additional information and to see a full list of local participating restaurants including addresses, visit BrowardHouse.org/DOFL. We encourage people to DINE OUT at our restaurants April 13th and all year long. Let’s support our philanthropic restaurant local businesses.

About Broward House: Broward House has served Broward County since 1988, with the mission to improve the quality of life for individuals impacted with chronic health challenges, including HIV, by providing pathways to wellness. We welcome people of all backgrounds, genders, races, and sexual orientations; and serve individuals with or without insurance or income. Our objective: to support the health and stability of each individual who walks through our door with a plan unique to their goals, including housing, medical care, HIV testing, mental health and other support services. For additional information visit browardhouse.org.

About Dining Out For Life®: Since 1991, Dining Out For Life has grown into an international event that raises an average of $4 million annually. The idea behind the single-day event is simple: Dine Out, End HIV. Each restaurant donates a percentage of the day’s food sales, which goes to local organizations to fund care, prevention, education, testing, counseling, and other essential HIV services. For more information or to participate, visit diningoutforlife.com. This year, donations can be made to Florida AIDS Walk- Broward House. All donations made there will be matched by AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) for double the impact.

Content Courtesy of Broward House

IT’S THAT TIME!

Dine at our favorite restaurants all donating a portion of sales on April 13th!

Rosie’s Bar & Grill ♦ Apt. 9F ♦ Hunters Nightclub

Georgie's Alibi Monkey Bar ♦ Over Easy Cafe ♦ Wilton Creamery

The Alchemist Café ♦ Bona Italian Restaurant ♦ Bubbles & Pearls ♦ Burgers & Beers

Cafe’ Seville ♦ Legends Tavern & Grille Pompano ♦ Milk Money Bar & Kitchen

Palmyra Restaurant & Hookah Lounge ♦ Papa Duke’s Deli ♦ Tatts and Tacos Beer Garden

Temple Street Eatery ♦ The Pub Wilton Manors ♦ Tropics Grille ♦ Tulio’s Tacos & Tequila Bar

Voo La Voo Café ♦ Da Gianni ♦ Eagle Wilton Manors ♦ Le Patio Wilton Manors

Patio Bar & Pizza ♦ Scandals Saloon ♦ Starbucks Wilton Manors ♦ Union Kitchen & Bar

April 14 - May 7, 2023

Charles Baran as Truman Capote

In the middle of the pandemic, bored and housebound, South Florida actor and writer Charles Baran along with his husband, theatrical lighting designer Kirk Bookman, decided to try something new to pass the time. They ordered a bunch of LGBTQ plays from New York’s Drama Bookshop and spent the evenings reading them aloud in their Palm Aire apartment. When they got to TRU, a play about author Truman Capote and written by Jay Presson Allen, a lightbulb went off. Back in 1989, the year Charles and Kirk met, they had seen the Broadway production which starred Robert Morse and absolutely loved it. Kirk, who had worked on several regional productions of TRU in his career, felt that Charles was a good fit to play the scandal-plagued Capote and that they should find a theater in the Fort Lauderdale area and do it. Both thought that Truman’s life and story would appeal to LGBTQ South Florida audiences. After all, in the pre-social media era, wasn’t Truman Capote one of the first “influencers”? Aside from being a well-known author, Capote gossiped about celebrities, he gave fabulous parties, he knew everyone who was everyone and went everywhere that everyone wanted to be. Charles jumped at Kirk’s idea and the chance to play such an iconic figure. Charles had a natural instinct for impressions. Back in Manhattan’s High School of Art and Design he was known for entertaining his fellow 9th Graders with his Bette Davis impression over hot dogs and Mac n’ Cheese in the school cafeteria. Even during that first “pandemic-inspired” reading in their Florida condo, Kirk felt Charles had already captured the writer’s mannerisms and quirky speech inflections.

Charles had always been a fan of Truman Capote and knew a fair amount about his life. He had read several of his major books: In Cold Blood, The Grass Harp, and Breakfast at Tiffany’s. Back in the 1970’s in the heady days of Studio 54 and Xenon, where Charles was a busboy, he had several close encounters with Capote himself. “I was at 54 on a Tuesday night, it must have been 3 o’clock in the morning and the place was starting to clear out. I looked at the dance floor and there was Truman Capote, slow dancing to “Last Dance” by Donna Summer, his arms draped over the shoulders of a much younger Latino man, his eyes were closed and he swayed

back and forth, a bit unsteady on his feet. It wasn’t the first time I had seen him. He was always at 54 with Warhol and Liza so I wasn’t surprised. The next morning, my phone rang. It was my mother telling me to turn on the Stanley Siegel show because Capote was on it ‘high as a kite and stewed!’ ‘Stewed’ was my mom’s favorite expression for a drunk. I turned on the TV and there he was, wearing the same outfit I had seen him in only a few short hours before, sans the younger Latino man of course, and telling Siegel he liked to ‘mix pills and liquor like cocktails’.”

The decision to mount a production of TRU was born. Next, Charles and Kirk had to find a venue. They called their friend David Gordon from Empire Stage and told him about the idea. David was on board and found a time slot that would work. Empire Stage seemed like the natural fit as Charles had a great time back in 2018 playing the lead in the world premiere of a play written by Nora Brigid Monahan called Aunt Jack which Charles later did Off-Broadway at New York’s Theater for the New City. For a director, Charles wanted someone he felt could understand the material and someone that had a great sense of comedy as well as pathos. TRU, while bittersweet at times, also has lots of moments that are uproariously funny. They approached Andy Rogow of Island City Stage whom they both greatly admired. Andy liked the idea and a production was in the works.

Set in 1975 and taking place over the course of two evenings, TRU finds Capote alone in his New York apartment at Christmas time after being ostracized by New York society for publishing a “semi-fictionalized” tellall chapter from his unfinished novel Answered Prayers To prepare for the role, Charles immediately immersed himself into all things Capote. “As of today, I’ve read most of his short stories, read the Gerald Clarke biography twice, which the play is based on, reread In Cold Blood and The Grass Harp, and discovered a book of Truman’s letters that I read a bit of every night religiously before going to bed. I’m also watching every Dick Cavett and David Suskind interview that Truman did back in the 70’s to further solidify Truman’s voice and hand movements. The old Johnny Carson interviews are especially funny. YouTube is a great resource for doing research!”

April 14, 2023 through May 7, 2023.

Fridays and Saturdays at 8pm and Sundays at 5pm.

www.EmpireStage.com | (954) 678-1496.

Author: Marc Ponautte | Photos Courtesy of Charles Baran

Baran-Bookman Productions in association with Empire Stage presents

T R U

A play by Jay Presson Allen

From the Words and Works of Truman Capote

Featuring Charles Baran as Truman Capote

Directed by Andy Rogow

April 14 – May 7, 2023

Performances Fridays and Saturdays at 8pm, Sundays at 5pm

Fresh & Fierce

Miami City Ballet

Miami City Ballet’s action-packed April triple bill, Fresh & Fierce, is for the fashion lovers, musical theatre fans, and dance aficionados alike. Jerome Robbins’ West Side Story Suite brings the magic of the classic musical to the concert dance stage, while George Balanchine’s Divertimento No 15, set to Mozart’s eponymous music, will dazzle audiences while paying homage to the legendary choreographer on the 40th anniversary of his passing.

The stunning program is rounded out by Sentimento, a new commission by Miami City Ballet School alum Durante Verzola, set to music by Ernesto Lecuona with costumes designed by Miami's own internationally celebrated fashion icon Esteban Cortázar. This love letter to Miami Beach brings 16 dancers together with a heavy dose of nostalgia for a piece uniquely and truly South Florida.

NSU Presents the Off-Broadway Musical Zombie Prom

NSU’s Department of Communication, Media, and the Arts presents Zombie Prom. This girl-loves-ghoul rock 'n' roll Off-Broadway musical is set in the atomic 1950s at Enrico Fermi High, where the law is laid down by a zany, tyrannical principal. Pretty senior Toffee has fallen for the class bad boy. Family pressure forces her to end the romance, and he charges off on his motorcycle to the nuclear waste dump. He returns glowing and determined to reclaim Toffee's heart. He still wants to graduate, but most of all he wants to take Toffee to the prom. The

April 14 - 16, 2023 Content

principal orders him to drop dead while a scandal reporter seizes on him as the freak du jour. History comes to his rescue while a tuneful selection of original songs in the style of 50s hits keeps the action rocking across the stage.

Zombie Prom takes the stage at the Black Box Theatre in the Don Taft University Center on NSU’s Davie Campus with performances Friday and Saturday, April 14 - 15, 2023, at 7:30PM and Sunday, April 16, 2023, at 2:00PM.

Zombie Prom is free and open to the public.

James Van Praagh

A pioneer of the mediumship movement and one of the most widely recognized and accurate spiritual mediums working today, James Van Praagh is coming to Lillian S. Wells Hall at The Parker on Saturday, April 15, 2023, at 8 p.m.

It’s an opportunity to see the man who has not only worked with international heads of state, religious world leaders, and celebrities but has also “seen” and connected with Andrew Carnegie, Princess Diana, Michael Jackson, Marilyn Monroe, Gandhi, Edgar Cayce, Benjamin Franklin, and Abraham Lincoln.

A “survival evidence medium,” Van Praagh provides evidential proof of life after death through highly detailed messages from the spiritual realm. His messages have brought solace, peace and spiritual insights, changing the view of both life and death for millions.

Recognized annually on Watkins List of the 100 Most Spiritually Influential Living People, Van Praagh was portrayed by Ted Danson in the critically acclaimed CBS movie about his life, Talking to Heaven , which also starred Mary Steenburgen and Queen Latifah.

Van Praagh became one of the first to demonstrate his paranormal skills to markets around the world and appeared on virtually every well-known national radio and television show since the late ’90s including Oprah,

Larry King Live, Dr. Phil, 48 Hours and The View in addition to hosting his own nationally syndicated show, Beyond

A successful producer for CBS, Van Praagh created the mini-series Living With The Dead starring Eva Longoria based on his work and The Dead Will Tell . He was also the creative force and producer of the network’s long running series The Ghost Whisperer starring Jennifer Love Hewitt.

Van Praagh also has created fans through over a dozen international best-sellers including Talking to Heaven, Reaching to Heaven, Healing Grief, Adventures of the Soul, The Power of Love and Wisdom From Your Spirit Guides.

He’s now reaching out to an online community through The James Van Praagh School of Mystical Arts, where students explore spiritual topics such as intuition, mediumship, mindfulness, and healing grief. The school offers a variety of learning experiences, including professional certifications and advanced mentoring programs as well as audio and video courses.

However, there is nothing like seeing him in person. Tickets are available at ParkerPlayhouse.com, by phone at 954.462.0222, or in person at The Parker box office and the Broward Center’s AutoNation Box Office.

April 15, 2023

Content Courtesy of Pierson Grant PR

James Van Praagh EVENING OF SPIRIT MESSAGES

SATURDAY, APRIL 15 • 8pm

World Renowned Psychic Medium and NY Times #1 Best Selling Author, James Van Praagh will be “Live” at The Parker in downtown Fort Lauderdale. You’ll leave forever changed – with a fresh new perspective on life and death, a stronger connection to the spirit world and the comforting awareness that you are not alone!

TICKETS at ParkerPlayhouse.com Ticketmaster | 954.462.0222

The Parker Box Office • Group Sales 10+ | 954.660.6307

The Indigo Girls

With the release of their new acclaimed album Long Look, Grammy Award-winners The Indigo Girls are back on the road and coming to the Au-Rene Theater at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts on Wednesday, April 19, 2023, at 7:30 p.m.

After launching their career more than 35 years ago in clubs around their native Atlanta, Emily Saliers and Amy Ray have recorded 16 studio albums (seven gold, four platinum, one double platinum), sold over 15 million records, and built a dedicated, enduring following.

“We joke about being old, but what is old when it comes to music? We’re still a bar band at heart,” says Saliers. “We are so inspired by younger artists and while our lyrics and writing approach may change, our passion for music feels the same as it did when we were 25-years-old.”

On Look Long, Indigo Girls tell their origin story in 11 songs that have a tender, revealing motion to them, as if they’re feeding into a Super 8 film projector, illuminating a darkened living room.

“We’re fallible creatures shaped by the physics of life,” says Saliers. “We’re shaped by our past; what makes us who we are? And why?”

As writers, Saliers and Ray tackle the mechanisms of perspective. Look Long considers the tremendous potential of ordinary life and suggests the possibility that

an honest survey of one’s past and present, unburdened by judgment, can give shape to something new—the promise of a way forward.

“When We Were Writers” recounts the flying sparks and passion Saliers felt as a young college student when the duo first started performing together. “Kickin” is a nuanced love letter to Ray’s Southern heritage. “I’m a little bit left of the ‘salt of the earth’ / That’s alright, I’ll prove my worth,” she sings.

Released in 1989, Indigo Girls' eponymous major label debut included singles “Closer to Fine” and “Kid Fears” and turned Indigo Girls into one of the most successful folk duos in history.

Committed and uncompromising activists, Saliers and Ray work on issues like LGBTQ+ rights, education (Imagination Library), immigration reform (El Refugio), death penalty reform, and sustainability in Native communities as co-founders of Honor the Earth, a nonprofit dedicated to Indigenous environmental justice and green energy solutions.

Jubilant crowd singalongs that often overpower the band itself are a trademark of Indigo Girls concerts.

“As time has gone on, our audience has become more expansive and diverse which gives me a great sense of joy,” says Saliers.

April 19, 2023

Broward Center for the Performing Arts | www.BrowardCenter.org

Content Courtesy of Pierson Grant PR

OUTshine LGBTQ+ Miami Film Festival

The 25th Annual Anniversary Edition of the OUTshine LGBTQ+ Film Festival Miami opens at the Scottish Rite Temple and continues at the Silverspot Cinema in Downtown Miami beginning April 20, 2023, for a full 11 Days.

Internationally acclaimed as one of the largest LGBTQ+ cultural festivals in the world, OUTShine Miami celebrates 25-years of amazing LGBTQ+ programming as well as uniting the community with OUTstanding social events. Through the diversity of showcasing the best in LGBTQ+ films, most of which you can only see at the Festival, OUTshine always aims to inspire, entertain and educate their audience. This year OUTshine will present some 50 plus features, shorts, and documentaries from all around the world.

The OUTshine LGBTQ+ Film Festival will open at the Scottish Rite Temple Thursday, April 20th and continue for 10 more days at the beautiful Silverspot Cinema Downtown Miami. They will also maintain their highly successful OUTshine At-Home programming, their well-known amazing, incredible parties and new to this

year, a free Cocktails & Cinema Happy Hour after the films on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, making this year’s festival the must-see, must-attend event of the year!

Board Chair/Executive Director Mark Gilbert said that having a new central location downtown, Silverspot Cinema, makes the Festival more accessible to more of the community and gives us a fantastic venue to watch films and hold some amazing after parties. The theater is packed with premium experience amenities such as lounge chairs with armrests to hold your alcoholic beverages and food and Dolby Atmos audio for an immersive experience in a modern building with an epic view! Silverspot Cinema is located in the heart of downtown right next to some of the best nightlife.

OUTrageous, OUTspoken, and OUTstanding, this year’s OUTshine Film Festival Miami is presented by Gilead and Miami-Dade County.

For more information, contact Mark Gilbert at markyg@outshinefilm.com.

April 20 - 30, 2023

www.OUTshineFilm.com

Content Courtesy of Alexis Bosch

NSU Dance Presents Student Choreography Showcase

April 21 - 22, 2023

NSU Dance in the Department of Communication, Media, and the Arts presents its annual Student Choreography Showcase. Come and witness powerful, original work performed by NSU students and choreographed by the university’s dance majors and minors.

NSU’s Student Choreography Showcase takes the Performance Theatre stage in the Don Taft University Center on NSU’s Davie Campus at 7:30PM on Friday and Saturday, April 21 - 22, 2023. The showcase is free and open to the public.

For more information, contact Professor Elana Lanczi at lanczi@nova.edu. Visit NSU’s Season of the Arts to learn more about NSU’s upcoming performances, events, and more.

Content and Photo Courtesy of NSU Department of Communication, Media, and the Arts

Celebrating South Florida Symphony Orchestra’s 25th Season!

RACHMANINOFF | BRUCKNER

Featuring Svetlana Smolina, piano

April 26 | 7:30 pm | The Parker

South Florida Symphony Orchestra’s 25th anniversary season grand finale features Rachmaninoff’s Piano

Concerto No. 3 – considered to be one of the most demanding of all piano concertos – performed by audience favorite Svetlana Smolina; along with Bruckner’s choral masterpiece, Te Deum, featuring the South Florida Symphony Chorus and spectacular vocalists.

southfloridasymphony.org | 954.522.8445

Photo: AndrewMeade.com • Concertmaster, Huifang Chen, Violin; Sebrina María Alfonso, Music Director; Immanuel Sandoval, Violin

Svetlana Smolina, piano

South Florida Symphony Orchestra’s Masterworks

Featuring Pianist Svetlana Smolina

A highly sought-after world-renowned classical pianist who has performed and collaborated with musicians and orchestras around the world, the flawless and stunningly talented Svetlana Smolina will return to the South Florida Symphony Orchestra (SFSO) on April 26, 2023. This time, she will play Sergei Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 3 for Masterworks V, the orchestra’s grand finale of its 25th anniversary season.

OutClique caught up with Smolina to talk more about the engagement and what keeps her coming back to the SFSO.

Denny Patterson: Hi, Svetlana! How excited are you to come back and play with the SFSO again?

Svetlana Smolina: I am very happy and excited! This is going to be a special concert because, first of all, it’s the South Florida Symphony’s 25th anniversary season, so I am honored to come back. The orchestra always invites the best musicians, and Sebrina is an incredible maestra, so the level of playing is extraordinary. Plus, I’m playing my favorite piano concerto, and we’ll be performing at The Parker, which I’ve never played at before. This is going to be a very exciting event, and I cannot wait.

Denny Patterson: Can you tell us a bit more about the piece you’re playing?

Svetlana Smolina: Yes, this is a concerto by Sergei Rachmaninoff, and this is considered to be his most centered masterpiece. He composed it for his United States tour in 1909, and the second performance was conducted by Gustav Mahler. So, for me, this piece represents my culture, and it shows Rachmaninoff as more than a composer, conductor, and pianist. I think this piece truly represents him as a person, which is everything in one. It’s more like a symphony concerto rather than just a piano concerto, and I think Sebrina is going to showcase an incredible interpretation of it because she is always very passionate and bold. You never know what’s going to happen when she conducts, and that’s very close to my style. When Rachmaninoff performed the piece, he said that each piece must have a golden point to where each moment can be a great deal. This concerto has monumental episodes and combinations, and it has a lot of elements in it, so it’s a very special piece. I hope we

interpret it as fresh as we can for our audience because this concerto is now played quite often. Vladimir Horowitz started playing it in 1930, and it most likely gained even more popularity after 1996 when the movie Shine came out and received an Oscar. As I mentioned, I think this piece is such a masterpiece, and it represents Rachmaninoff as a musician.

Denny Patterson: Since you have performed with the SFSO numerous times, what do you enjoy the most about collaborating with Maestra Sebrina and this esteemed group?

Svetlana Smolina: She brings us such magnificent interpretations. She really follows the source, and she likes to meet with you before rehearsals and find out what our own interpretation is. She’s never like, oh, it has to be like this or that. It truly is a collaboration of two musicians on the same level of artistry, and two musicians trusting each other and doing their best improvisations. That is what I really treasure because playing in an orchestra, it’s all about communication, and that communication happens on such a trust level. I am very in tune to what Sebrina feels about music. She’s very close to my musical ideas. We’re almost matching, so we never have to argue (laughs). We could probably play without rehearsals. Sebrina is very passionate, and her feelings and imagination are wild. It is very, very special to perform with her because we can create on stage.

Denny Patterson: Before we wrap up, are there any other upcoming projects or anything else you would like to mention or plug?

Svetlana Smolina: Before coming to Florida, I will be in Asia at the beginning of April playing a chamber concert with Kazuhiro Takagi in Osaka, Japan, and I may do a couple concerts and masterclasses in China. In May, I’ll be working as a guest professor for the London Performing Academy, and I’ll be playing at the Philadelphia International Music Festival in June. Then in September, I’ll be going on tour in Brazil, playing in São Paulo and a few other cities, and I’ll be doing another orchestral tour through China with the Dublin Philharmonic in October. So, that is what’s currently planned, and we’ll see what else this year brings!

April 26, 2023

Author: Denny Patterson | Photo Courtesy of Alex Chugunov

Mean Girls

Don’t be jealous — Mean Girls can’t help that it’s so popular.

But, do join the fun when this “so fetch” musical saunters onto the stage at the Broward Center in Fort Lauderdale, May 2-7, 2023, marking the end of its national Broadway tour.

The musical comedy is the mastermind of an awardwinning creative team, including director Casey Nicholaw (Aladdin, The Book of Mormon), composer Jeff Richmond (30 Rock, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt), lyricist Nell Benjamin (Legally Blonde), and writer Tina Fey (30 Rock and Bosssypants). The hilarious tale explores surviving high school cliques, navigating friendships and nemeses, and figuring out what it means to be true to oneself.

Adante Carter, who plays Aaron Samuels, the most popular guy at North Shore High School said that it’s exciting to bring the show to Fort Lauderdale for its final chapter and that, in a way, it also brings the show full circle.

“Ironically, we were in Fort Lauderdale when we got the call to go home for three weeks while the COVID-19 pandemic blew over,” he said.

However, those three weeks stretched much longer than expected, leaving Broadway dark for 18 months.

“Fort Lauderdale was the last place we were all together before we could reconvene in October of 2021, so Fort Lauderdale is going to be very special for us in that regard,” he said.

Carter has noticed that post-pandemic people are excited to see live shows more than ever.

“You can just feel that energy,” he said. “I think that is something that we were really deprived of and that we really missed. Sure, we had other awesome mediums to entertain us during that time, but there was nothing like theater. Yes, you can watch recorded shows but there is nothing like being in the actual physical space with people who are living and breathing and saying lines like 8 feet from you.”

For a kid who grew up watching the movie, Carter was shocked when he landed the role of Aaron.

“I owned the DVD and I’m sure there are scratches all over it because I watched it so many times. When it came

out, I was like ‘Oh man, I really gotta prepare myself for what high school will be like,’” he said. “I used it as, kind of, a guiding staple. But luckily, high school was nothing like that.”

Carter is also particularly proud to be part of such a diverse cast where the majority of leads are people of color.

“Our cast is breaking barriers and breaking stereotypes within the industry and it’s fantastic,” he said. “I really love that our Karen is played by a beautiful Black woman and that in the movie Karen is the stereotype of the dumb blonde. But, dumbness isn’t specific to one type of person. We’re taking that stereotype and flipping it. A beautiful Black woman also plays Gretchen, our Regina is Egyptian and Columbian and I’m half Black. It’s just really cool.”

Carter, who has been with Mean Girls since the start of the national tour, has performed over 650 times as part of the cast.

“I still get nervous and I think that just reminds me that I’m alive and that I care about this story that we’re going to put in the hands of people who have never seen it before,” he said. “It’s just really exciting. I think that the biggest joy I have in this job, in particular, is that I get to hear laughter every single night.”

And, this laughter is infectious.

“If you want to experience the joy of laughing with other people—strangers, friends, family—Mean Girls is the show for you,” he said.

Megan Fitzgerald Dunn, PhD is an Associate Professor in the Halmos College of Arts and Sciences, Department of Communication, Media, and the Arts, at Nova Southeastern University. Dr. Fitzgerald serves as the faculty advisor for Lambda Pi Eta. Her research focuses on offensive language and media, journalism education, and media effects.

Dr. Fitzgerald holds a PhD in Mass Communications from Florida State University, an MA in Journalism from Syracuse University, and a BA in Communication from Stonehill College. Email: mf821@nova.edu. Curriculum vitae: works.bepress.com/megan-fitzgerald

May 2-7, 2023

Broward Center for the Performing Arts | www.BrowardCenter.org

Author: Megan Fitzgerald Dunn, Ph.D | Photos Courtesy of Jenny Anderson

The Concert: A Tribute to ABBA

The group that the official ABBA Fan Club has named "the best ABBA tribute band in the world,” brings its fantastic re-creations of ABBA's most iconic hits to The Parker in The Concert: A Tribute to ABBA on Tuesday, May 9, 2023.

While not affiliated with the original ABBA group, Polar Music or Mamma Mia, 21st Century Artists has been presenting this audience favorite for well over two decades.

Fans once again are reveling in ABBA's most iconic hits, including "Mamma Mia," "S.O.S.," "Money, Money, Money," "The Winner Takes All," "Waterloo," "Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!" and "Dancing Queen."

Taking its name from the initials of the first name of its band members Agnetha Fältskog, Björn Ulvaeus, Benny Andersson, Anni-Frid Lyngstad, the original ABBA

received Grammy® nominations for its recordings of “Don’t Shut Me Down (Record Of The Year and Best Pop Duo/Group Performance); “I Still Have Faith in You” (Record Of The Year); and “Voyage” (Album Of The Year and Best Pop Vocal Album).

The original group was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2010 by members of the Bee Gees. In his essay for the induction, Jim Farber wrote, “Yes, the way ABBA dressed could qualify them for a lifetime achievement award on What Not to Wear, the way they piled their harmonies and instruments on top of each other could make Phil Spector’s Wall of Sound seem like a modest lark, and the joy their songs exuded suggested a level of pleasure that bordered on the lunatic.”

The Concert: A Tribute to ABBA gives fans another chance to dance in the aisles like a Dancing Queen. As Robin Gibb said of ABBA, “Their music will live on forever.”

May 9, 2023

The Parker | www.ParkerPlayhouse.com

The Inaugural ArtServe Impact Awards

ArtServe will host the inaugural “Impact Awards” from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Friday, May 19, 2023, to honor the most transformative and influential arts supporters in media, the community, business and philanthropy, as well as recognize its own most memorable artists.

Guests will enjoy a celebratory reception and silent auction at ArtServe, 1350 E. Sunrise Blvd. in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

“In South Florida’s creative industries, ArtServe provides all types of artists with the opportunity to make an impact. Whether you’re an artist who’s learning how to parlay your talent into a thriving business, a donor who sees extraordinary talent in that next great artist or a community member who brings it all together, we make it happen,” ArtServe Executive Director Jason Hughes explained. “We are thrilled to recognize these extraordinary partners, advocates, donors and artists, all of whom have impacted both ArtServe and our community in so many diverse ways.”

The award-winning arts incubator’s Impact Award recipients of 2022 are:

Media Advocate: Dr. Steven Evans, Owner/Publisher of OutClique Magazine

Dr Steven Evans and his monthly magazine, OutClique, bring together people and their stories impacting South Florida LGBTQ+ communities. His support and dedication

to local non-profits like ArtServe has also been an important, influential and impactful factor in their success.

Business Partner: Holy Cross Health

Since 2018, Holy Cross Health has partnered with ArtServe to feature exhibitions by South Florida female artists at The Dorothy Mangurian Comprehensive Women's Center at Holy Cross HealthPlex, a comprehensive, spalike healthcare center designed for women by women and staffed by physicians in the Holy Cross Medical Group. Holy Cross recognizes that art is an invaluable, therapeutic tool to facilitate healing from illness, pain, loss or other emotional struggles and appreciates ArtServe’s support of local artists and connection with the community through art in unexpected places.

Community Partner: Funding Arts Broward

Celebrating its 20th year, Funding Arts Broward shares ArtServe’s commitment to supporting the needs of the local arts community and the belief that art and culture has the power to transform lives, transcend our differences, and bring us together in celebration of the human spirit. Funding Arts Broward support has been a major factor in helping ArtServe to fulfill its mission.

Philanthropist: Marc Martorana

As a significant supporter of local charities, Marc Martorana, along with his husband, Don, regularly host fundraising events at their home and other venues.

Photo Courtesy of Marc Martorana

Photo Courtesy of GENVAS Venetian Arts Society

They’ve been giving back to the community for over a decade. Over the past year alone, they’ve hosted events for Sunserve, Equality Florida, Plays of Wilton and more.

Educator: Yvonne Pubien, Owner of Nailed It! DIY Studio Retired Lauderhill police officer Yvonne Pubien has partnered with ArtServe to bring her expertise to a collaborative project with the Small Business Development Center at Florida Atlantic University. She also created a curriculum at her arts and crafts studio, Nailed It! DIY, where she taught a small business workshop for lowincome residents of Broward County.

Artist: Dan Perez, Photographer

Dan Perez is a multiple award-winning documentary filmmaker, photographer and traveler specializing in documentaries, photojournalism, and event and travel photography.

His photographs have been named as official selections in several international photography exhibitions, as well as featured in New York Magazine. One of the five winners of the Flickr 2018 “Your Best Shot” photography competition, he also was named as a finalist in the 2019 Travel Photographer of the Year Awards.

To purchase tickets, visit https://web.charityengine.net/ArtServeAwards

For event sponsorship, contact Jason Hughes at jasonh@artserve.org.

ArtServe inspires, supports and advances its diverse members, artists and community by promoting artistic development, education and prosperity through the exploration and presentation of the visual and performing arts.

ArtServe

Named a “2020 Top-Rated Nonprofit” by GreatNonprofits, the leading provider of user reviews of charities and nonprofits, Fort Lauderdale-based ArtServe is an award-winning arts incubator that is advancing the arts for social good as a creative laboratory and hub for experimental artists committed to diversity, equity and inclusion. Now in its 35th year, ArtServe has won several awards for innovation in the arts and is supported in part by the Broward County Board of County Commissioners as recommended by the Broward Cultural Council and Florida’s Department of State and the Division of Cultural Affairs. Each year, ArtServe programs contribute tangibly to the region’s economy, helping 2,000+ artists sell their work, build businesses and engage the community. To do that, ArtServe secures financial support through donations, sponsorships and memberships.

Content Courtesy of ArtServe May 19, 2023

ArtServe | www.ArtServe.org

Photo Courtesy of Dan Perez

Photo Courtesy of Yvonne Pubien

MODS Announces New Exhibit

Discovery Spot

A new early childhood experience is ripening at the Museum of Discovery & Science (MODS). The Discovery Center exhibit gallery at MODS has closed as of January 2 and is reopening this summer as the Discovery Spot presented by JM Family Enterprises.

“Our newest permanent exhibit gallery is blooming at MODS! The Discovery Spot will encourage handson creative play that is so important to the cognitive development of our children,” said Joseph P. Cox, president and CEO of MODS. “Early childhood education is in our DNA, dating back to our beginning in 1976 as the Discovery Center. The new Discovery Spot will allow our community's youngest scientists to take their very first steps in science.”

Let's grow together through playful learning! In the Discovery Spot, children ages 0-6 will be able to splash, climb, tinker, and explore. This gallery encourages our youngest guests to make exciting discoveries through experiences in the freshly reimagined and beloved Citrus Grove, Ocean to Air, and Everglades areas.

The Discovery Center, which was installed as a permanent exhibit space at the Museum when it opened in 1992, has welcomed more than 12 million guests from every state and countless countries over the past three decades. The

new Discovery Spot will encourage playful exploration and STEM experiences leading to lifelong learning for all families and will cover 4,000 square feet of Museum space.

Designed from the ground up to support the needs of all families, the Discovery Spot offers numerous opportunities for adult-child collaboration in zones packed with one-of-akind experiences. Exciting learning opportunities include Sketch & Release where guests can bring Florida native fish and sharks to life by digitally painting their chosen species and then releasing them into a digital ocean. They can ascend the Cloud Climber above the exhibit floor and walk the wings of a biplane suspended from the exhibit ceiling. In the Juicing Factory, the swirling water in the washing station, brightly colored juicing tubes and whirling machinery pay homage to the Museum’s Great Gravity Clock standing proud in the Atrium

During the construction phase, MODS will provide continuity of early childhood experiences through its Sprouting STEM Early Childhood Learning Lab powered by PNC Grow Up Great, located on the second floor of the Museum, as well as exciting exhibits Wild Kratts: Creature Power! from January 20 - May 7, 2023, followed by Expedition: Dinosaur, May 19 - September 4, 2023, in the Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital Traveling Exhibit Gallery.

The Our Fund Foundation Community Foundation of Broward Grant Recipients

The Our Fund Foundation and Community Foundation of Broward’s LGBTQ+ Social Justice & Equity Funders Collaborative Awards $250,000 in Grants

The LGBTQ+ Social Justice & Equity Funders Collaborative, a unique collaboration between The Our Fund Foundation and the Community Foundation of Broward, has announced the eight non-profit organizations chosen to receive a total of $250,000 in support of innovative initiatives supporting social equity and the civil liberties of LGBTQ+ residents of Broward County.

Formed in 2022 by the two respected foundations with the goal of creating a more informed and empathetic environment for the LGBTQ+ population, the strategic partnership combines critical philanthropic resources and expertise for the benefit of the LGBTQ+ community and all residents of Broward County.

“This is a distressing time for all of us, not just those who identify as LGBTQ+,” said David Jobin, president and CEO of The Our Fund Foundation. “With our state and national politicians launching hateful attacks against the gay community and vowing to repeal our basic civil liberties, it is critical to the well-being of all Broward residents that we work collectively to end discrimination against all people.”

“For nearly four decades, support for LGBTQ+ residents has been integral to the Community Foundation’s work to champion diversity, equity and inclusion in Broward. This must be a place where everyone feels welcome and has a real opportunity to thrive,” said Community Foundation President/CEO Jennifer O’Flannery Anderson, PhD.

Each nonprofit grantee was thoroughly vetted by a joint selection committee and will receive between $29,000$50,000.

2023 LGBTQ+ Social Justice & Equity Funders Collaborative Grant Recipients Include

Equality Florida – Safe & Healthy Schools in Broward

YES Institute – Inclusive Futures in Broward County

American Civil Liberties Union – Ensuring Healthcare & Education Without Erasure for LGBTQ+ People in Broward and Beyond

Barry University – Project Transcend: Transcending Disinformation & Bias to Protect Trans Health Care in Broward County

Hued Songs – Building Belonging: An Artist Residency for Change

Museum of Discovery and Science – MODS Inclusivity Initiative

Ujima Men’s Collective – BROTHAS Project

World AIDS Museum and Educational Center (WAM) –Fighting Stigma and Building Community Through the Arts

The Our Fund Foundation Philanthropy Awards

The Our Fund Foundation hosted the Fourth Annual South Florida LGBTQ Philanthropy Awards Presented by Bank of America Private Bank to a sold-out audience on Saturday, February 18, 2023.

The nonprofit’s annual awards reception celebrated outstanding philanthropists who generously give of their time, talent and treasure to the South Florida LGBTQ community. Honorees and guests enjoyed a cocktail reception at the Broward Performing Arts Center’s lower courtyard prior to the ceremony held in the Mary Porter Riverview Ballroom.

“In just four short years, the South Florida LGBTQ Philanthropy Awards has become our signature event,”

said David Jobin, president and CEO, Our Fund Foundation. “It’s a joy to recognize these inspirational leaders in philanthropy and a privilege to have Bank of America Private Bank’s generous support since its inception.”

This year’s class of South Florida LGBTQ Philanthropy awardees included:

Philanthropists of the Year: Didier Moritz and Erwin Mayer

Designating the Philanthropist of the Year, this year’s recipient is a couple, Erwin Mayer & Didier Mortiz.

Erwin and Didier have long championed a number of philanthropic causes, particularly focused in the LGBTQ

community and animal rights, and are proud supporters of The Our Fund Foundation initiatives. Their generosity has made many projects and initiatives possible throughout South Florida.

Commitment to a Cause: Nik Harris

Nik Harris (she/they), is a queer gender non-conforming attorney, activist, and speaker. Nik is the Director of Strategic Outreach and Engagement for the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), They were the first Black woman elected as Vice-Chair of the HRC Board of Governors, serves on the boards of Ruth’s List, TransInclusive Group, the Broward County Sheriff’s Social Justice Task Force, the Broward State Attorney’s Advisory Council and is a BIG in the Big Brothers Big Sisters Pride Program. They founded “Thou Art Woman”, a signature open mic event, with their friend and fellow attorney G Wright Muir. The event series

celebrates LGBTQ women and their allies through performance and visual art.

Next Generation of Philanthropy Award: Jeff Oliverio

Jeff Oliverio is a Financial Advisor with Truist Wealth. He previously served for 7 years as the President for PFLAG Broward. In 2019, Jeff joined several friends and neighbors in Hollywood as a Founder for the Hollywood LGBTQ+ Council to create a community advocacy organization that focused on Life, Government and Business in Greater Hollywood. He has also been a longterm volunteer with the National LGBTQ Task Force and in 2020, in the face of the pandemic, Jeff joined the Task Force Gala as Fundraising Chair and then Vice-Chair in 2021. In 2022, Jeff was the Chair for the Gala and was part of an incredible team that raised over $900k and set a record for the event. Jeff also serves at the South Florida PRIDE Business Resource Group Chair for Truist.

resources to developing the Garden Plaza at the Pride Center.

Chuck Nicholls started his career in Washington DC as an economist, statistician, and epidemiologist. He started volunteering with HIV/AIDS organizations, and upon moving to Ft. Lauderdale with his partner Mark Turner, became a Board Member and then President of Tuesday’s Angels, an organization that provided critical life-saving support for people living with HIV/AIDS in South Florida. He also founded the Equality Garden Club and continues devoting time and

Established in 2011, The Our Fund Foundation has grown into the third largest LGBTQ foundation in the nation. As South Florida’s only LGBTQ community foundation, Our Fund promotes a culture of philanthropy by uniting donors with organizations advancing lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender issues in Broward, Miami-Dade and Palm Beach counties and supporting causes within the LGBTQ community.

Dick Schwarz Award for Lifetime Achievement in Philanthropy: Chuck Nicholls

Our Fund Foundation’s Scott Bennett Supporting the LGBTQIA+ Community

South Florida’s LGBTQIA+ community is vast, but support for organizations focused on uplifting us is wanting. It’s a need the founders of the Our Fund Foundation recognize and seek to remedy. Since 2010, Our Fund has focused on raising money and distributing it to worthy people and organizations.

The concept is simple but the execution can be complicated. Raising money, selecting grantees, and filing all the financial reports are just some of the behindthe-scenes responsibilities that make the organization work. Scott Bennett serves as Our Fund’s Chair of the Board of Directors and has been with them, in one role or another, since its founding. “I knew there was a great need to promote philanthropy to and from our community,” he told OutClique. “I started a donor advised fund with Our Fund to coordinate my philanthropic activities.”

Bennett is a retired lawyer who’s been in the Wilton Manors community for decades and moved here full time when he retired in 2017. His resumé includes getting his law degree from Cornell and 37 years as general counsel for Standard & Poors/McGraw-Hill. His commitment to the LGBTQIA+ community is just as impressive. “While at the company, I founded the LGBTQ Employee Resource Group, and helped adopt health and other benefits including pension survivor benefits for LGBTQ partners of employees. I also was instrumental in having the Company make contributions to various local and national LGBTQ organizations including NYS Pride Agenda, Lambda Legal, the NYC Pride Center, and GLADD. It was during this time period in NYC where I began my personal LGBTQ fundraising and political activism.”

Even though he’s retired, he hasn’t quit working. Unlike many corporate boards, he doesn’t just lend his name to Our Fund’s letterhead, as David Jobin, Our Fund’s CEO and President, attests. “The Our Fund Foundation has an active board, so Scott's role is to help harness that energy

and keep the board moving in unison. He sets an example around his commitment of time, his financial support, and his advocacy in the community.”

Preparing For the Future

Part of setting the example includes leaving a legacy with the organization. “I included a bequest to Our Fund in my will.” Bennett spends much of his time encouraging donors to the fund to think about remaining a part of the LGBTQIA+ community even after they’re gone.

“Our donors can leave bequests which last for 10 to 20 years or perpetually, depending on their desires. I think it’s important that Our Fund can ensure their wishes are being met and can determine what our community needs will be at any given time. Our Fund is a convenient way for donors to improve the quality of life for the LGBTQ community.”

LGBTQIA+ may have a vibrant circle of friends and ‘chosen family,’ but often don’t have an obvious heir, at least from a legal standpoint. Bennett says priority number one is spelling out your wishes. “I believe everyone should have a will, providing how they want their assets to be distributed when they die. If this is not accomplished, they may find that their funds have gone to distant relatives who are not very important to them. In the worst case scenario, the funds could revert back to the state if there are no relatives.”

Seeing Double

Bennett isn’t going anywhere anytime soon. While he works with many local organizations, he is especially hands-on at Our Fund. Right now, the organization has about $25 million in assets. He believes that, with enough work and planning, that can be doubled in the next two years. “I believe Our Fund assets will go to 50 million or more. We have the possibility of increasing our grant making ability from 2.5 million on an annual basis to $5 million on an annual basis.”

www.Our-Fund.org

Author: John Hayden | Photo Courtesy of Steven Shires Photography

Photo credit: Ric Ide, www.tomnicholsmusic.com

Gay Men’s Chorus of South Florida New Board Member

Tom Nichols

The Gay Men’s Chorus of South Florida (GMCSF) Board Chair Fred Boykin officially welcomed Tom Nichols to the Gay Men's Chorus of South Florida Board of Directors last Thursday, March 2, 2023. Nichols serves as the organization's 13th member, alongside other recent members, including Mayor Judy Paul of Davie, Erick Eldridge, Director of Special Events at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood, and Johnnie Mejia, VP of Sales and Client Experiences at PNC Bank.

Tom is an accomplished musician with over 40 years of experience creating, performing, and producing music. He's written and collaborated on hundreds of songs ranging from classical, folk, rock, and pop to inspirational music and several improvisational piano and instrumental works. Working with mainstream

artists, he has produced dozens of full-length albums, co-produced an independent musical on film, directed various choirs, and taught guitar and voice. Mr. Nichols has received numerous accolades, including high honors from the Mid-Atlantic Song Contest for “Perfect Circle of Gold” and “Wind to Carry Me”. In addition, Tom's album, TRUST, was received with great acclaim and consistently favorable reviews.

Tom earned his business degree from Virginia Tech and is also a graduate of The Recording Workshop (a recording engineering school) in Chillicothe, OH. Accomplished in the business world as well, Tom is the chief operating officer for The Arcus Foundation. He previously served as the chief financial officer for The Heinz Center, World Wildlife Fund, and The African Wildlife Foundation.

Photos Credit: Ginny Dixon Photographics

PERFORMED BY

DISNE Y’S BELOVED SONGS REIMAGINED BY THE GAY MEN’S CHORUS OF SOUTH FLORIDA IN A CELEBRATION OF LIFE, LOVE, FAMILY, AND PRIDE

Saturday, June 24, 2023 at 8:00 pm | Sunday, June 25, 2023 at 3:00 pm in the Lillian S. Wells Hall at The Parker, Fort Lauderdale, FL

Tickets at GMCSF.ORG

Welcome

everyone under the sun

Greater Fort Lauderdale invites everyone to enjoy our vibrant community here in Florida’s LGBT+ capital, from cosmopolitan dining and nightlife and the revelry of Wilton Manors to miles of golden beaches and Everglades eco-tours. If you’re welcoming visitors or are ready for a staycation, visit us online to learn more about all of the exceptional attractions and experiences our ever-evolving destination has to offer.